Fremantle believe Rory Lobb can still become an AFL game-breaker as the Dockers stall on trading the inconsistent tall back to GWS.
Lobb, who is on a lucrative deal at Fremantle until 2023, is determined on returning to the Giants after leaving the expansion club three years ago.
The clubs have reached an impasse on the 28-year-old, who has shown serious glimpses across his 119-game career, without ever becoming a star.
At 206cm, Lobb has provided valuable ruck support for emerging Fremantle big man Sean Darcy, as well as kicking goals up forward.
Dockers football boss Peter Bell admits they would have to receive significant compensation to offload Lobb before the end of the trade period on Wednesday.
"Ruck support is so hard to find, there's not many around, particularly at Rory's size," Bell told ABC radio.
"He's such a great athlete and that's why it's very difficult for us.
"Rory has spoken to us about he'd love to find that consistency in his game and I'll tell you what, if he can, there's a very impactful player.
"You never say never (about trading Lobb), particularly the way the trade period is being conducted these days."
Fremantle are experiencing a busy off-season, with the Dockers trying to complete a deal with Geelong for former first-round draft pick Jordan Clark to return home to Western Australia.
Young midfielder Adam Cerra's move from Fremantle to Carlton was finalised on Thursday.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne are adamant about taking Jason Horne-Francis in the draft after turning down a bold offer from Adelaide for this year's No.1 pick.
After claiming their first wooden spoon since 1972, North are set on using the top pick in the draft and pushing forward with the biggest rebuild in the club's history.
But the Crows reportedly came hard for North's prized selection, with Horne-Francis a South Adelaide local.
According to AFL Media, Adelaide offered the Kangaroos their No.4 pick this year as well as their two first-round selections in 2022, in exchange for North's No.1 pick.
Father-son prospects Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs) are considered among the top-three players in this year's draft class, along with Horne-Francis, who has been compared to Brownlow medallists Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield.
At Waverley Park, new Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has attempted to bury rumours of the Hawks having plans to put stars Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara and Chad Wingard on the trade table.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said on Thursday that Hawks members should brace for some surprise moves before the end of the trade period this week.
But Sam Mitchell said there had been no meaningful discussions about offloading any of the Hawks' aces.
"There's been no conversations with other clubs about those guys that has got to any sort of level that's worth even talking to the players about it," Mitchell told Seven News.
