The Herald Sun’s Jay Clark lists the top AFL trade and free agency targets of 2017

UPDATE: JOSH Schache is off the market and the Saints are out of the race for Nat Fyfe — how do those moves impact this year’s trade and free agency hit list?

Dustin Martin is in high demand. Picture: Michael Klein

JOSH Schache is off the market — great news for Lions fans and Sam Reid’s manager.

The injury-plagued Swan is now clearly the standout key forward in this year’s pool of free agents and out of contract stars.

BREAKING NEWS: SCHACHE RE-SIGNS WITH LIONS

ADAM COONEY: MY ADVICE FOR FYFE AND DUSTY

That will push up his value with a line of clubs headed by Richmond and Collingwood desperate for a second key forward to support Jack Riewoldt and Darcy Moore, respectively.

He’s not the only one adding numbers to his next potential pay packet, with Josh Kelly and Dustin Martin both racking up incredible numbers as trade talk heats up.

So who should your club be targeting? Two weeks ago Herald Sun expert Jay Clark rated the top free agency and trade targets. With Schache crossed off the list, here’s how things stand.

AFL’s MOST WANTED

The stars at the top of the 2017 trade list

1 JOSH KELLY, 22 (GWS) — UNCONTRACTED

North Melbourne has filled up the back of a truck with bags of money and plonked them on the smooth-moving midfielder’s doorstep. The nine-year, $9 million offer is probably the third biggest in the game’s history. And if you have watched him carve up the midfield over the past month, you know he’s worth it. Remarkably, he could stay at Greater Western Sydney for the next two years, try and win a flag in that time, then be worth even more with a premiership on his resume. St Kilda equally keen.

Dustin Martin is in red-hot form. Picture: Michael Klein

2 DUSTIN MARTIN, 25 (Rich) — FREE AGENT

Martin’s situation seems centred around a decent pay cheque. He loves the environment at Richmond, has a great relationship with the coach, and has appreciated their protection and support through some tricky times, including allowing him to travel to New Zealand during the club’s bye to see his father. But Martin’s management are chasing the best deal, which has attracted a $1 million-a-year offer from North Melbourne. Good on the Roos for being aggressive, because Martin’s best form in the forward half of the ground is unstoppable. He will put bums on seats, too. For Richmond the equation is simple. Pay the man seven figures and he will re-sign.

3 STEVEN MAY, 25 (GC) — UNCONTRACTED

We shouldn’t be surprised that Hawthorn has strong interest in this A-Grade key defender. With Josh Gibson in the twilight of his career, the Gold Coast Suns’ stopper would be a perfect replacement. But grab a box of popcorn and let’s wait to see how the Hawks could possibly do a satisfactory trade deal given they have already sacrificed so much already to land Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell. Their top pick this year — a second-rounder — is not going to cut it and we saw last year that there was not one single Hawthorn player willing to make the trade move north.

4 SAM REID, 25 (Syd) — FREE AGENT

Reid is in career-best form and could be forced to take a pay cut to stay in the Harbour City. No doubt he has been well paid over the past few seasons which have been marred by injury. Should Reid feel like he owes the Swans? Not in this day and age. He has produced career-best form this season and is attracting significant interest from Richmond and Collingwood. His Magpie brother, Ben, said he’s going to get in Sam’s ear about coming to the Holden Centre because he would be perfect at centre half-forward. An offer in the vicinity of $600,000-$700,000 should get him over the line if his best deal at Sydney starts with a four.

Sam Reid is on the radar of several Victorian clubs. Picture: George Salpigtidis

5 NAT FYFE, 25 (Frem) — FREE AGENT

Has dropped a few places with St Kilda pulling out of the race but still yet to put pen to paper on a deal Dockers deal. Things sat awkwardly over summer after the Brownlow Medallist said he would have to consider all options. It was like dangling a chip in front of a bunch of hungry seagulls for Victorian clubs. But the noises about Fyfe’s supposed discontent have fallen silent over the past month with Fremantle’s surge up the ladder helping tick off on one of his key criteria. The money will be there for him at Fremantle, who would match any restricted free agency offer, then force a Patrick-Dangerfield-style trade, asking for something in the vicinity of two first-round draft picks.

6 JACKSON TRENGOVE, 26 (PA) — FREE AGENT

Trengove is the dark horse because his stocks have definitely gone up this season. The versatile big man is playing ruck-key forward and helping provide a quality foil for Paddy Ryder and Charlie Dixon. If you ask any recruiter what they’re always chasing it’s a big man who can play dual roles and hit the scoreboard. Trengove is off-Broadway a little, but expect his name to continue to bob up at the back end of the year. Port won’t pay overs and that leaves Trengove open to a move back home to Victoria.

7 LACHIE WHITFIELD, 22 (GWS) — CONTRACTED

Whitfield is contracted for another year, which is going to make any trade in 2017 extremely difficult if not near-on impossible. But the Saints have been massive fans of this pinpoint wingman for years and if they miss out on Kelly and Dusty, you know where their attention will turn. Importantly, they have the salary cap space and two first-round draft picks (thanks Hawthorn) to satisfy the Giants. Whitfield has endured a tough time during his drugs ban in recent months and it has given him time to think about his future. He’s crucial to the Giants’ plans, and will no doubt feel better about things if he’s playing well and GWS makes a deep run into September.

8 DEVON SMITH, 24 (GWS) — UNCONTRACTED

The third Giant on this list has been hard-hit by injury, with the latest knee blow at training set to sideline the dangerous goalkicker for another two or three months. Usually, that puts contract talks on hold. At his best, Smith is a lethal small forward-midfielder who can turn games with his goal nous and prolific ball-winning. Geelong has kept a close eye on Smith since his junior days in the Geelong Falcons and Richmond have also circled, but his footy probably hasn’t hit the heights we all expected because of those injuries. GWS desperate to keep him.

Exciting Giants goalkicker Devon Smith is out of contract at the end of the year.

9 ZAK JONES, 22 (Syd) — UNCONTRACTED

The Swans are in a pickle. With the club feeling the pinch in the salary cap, the Swans may only be able to afford to keep one of either Sam Reid and Jones. No doubt, Jones will be their priority, as part of plans to replenish an ageing midfield. Jones has many admirers at Melbourne, St Kilda and North Melbourne, but the Demons are clearly in the box seat given his brother, Nathan, is co-captain and wants him in red and blue. The hard-nut midfielder has enjoyed a breakout year.

10 MITCH McGOVERN, 22 (Adel) — UNCONTRACTED

The two Western Australian teams are sniffing around McGovern, who clunks the ball like his older brother Jeremy. Taken with pick No. 43, he is another gem of late selection from Crows’ ace recruiter Hamish Ogilvie. At 191cm, the 22-year-old may be worth a first-round draft pick at the trade table.

11 JASON JOHANNISEN, 24 (WB) — UNCONTRACTED

The Dogs were a bit surprised by the price tag in the early part of the negotiations but you have to be impressed by the speedster’s form line over the first 10 rounds. He has been one of the Dogs’ best three players so far this season. He is a matchwinner whose blistering pace and dare can cut apart an opposition defences but the Dogs will pay closer to $500,000 than $700,000 a year. Norm Smith Medal would have done plenty for the confidence.

12 GARY ABLETT, 33 (GC) — CONTRACTED

After a slow start, the brilliant midfielder is now fifth favourite to win a third Brownlow Medal. We all know what’s going to happen here. Despite Mark Evans fighting talk last weekend, Ablett will make the move back to Geelong at the end of the season in return for a third-round draft pick (or thereabouts) or a younger player. Otherwise, Ablett will consider the prospect of retiring, and the Suns will lose him anyway. Gold Coast is snookered on this one. Ablett is bound to spend the next two seasons kicking snags in the blue and white hoops. Could win a Coleman Medal if he plays largely forward.

ANALYSIS: WHAT SHOULD CATS PAY FOR ABLETT?

13 TOM ROCKLIFF, 27 (Bris) — FREE AGENT

The ball magnet has bounced back from the most challenging year of his career, leading the AFL for clearances up until last round. Senior coach Chris Fagan has lauded his leadership and impact off the field but he is unlikely to decide his future until the back half of the season. Collingwood was the only club interested last season, but his stocks have risen sharply. He wants to play finals and that’s unlikely to happen at Brisbane in the next two seasons. Is he a back-up option to Fyfe?

Will rival clubs try to poach David Zaharakis?

14 DAVID ZAHARAKIS, 27 (Ess) — FREE AGENT

His performance has ebbed and flowed this year and rival clubs are doing their homework now to find out whether he is worth going hard for. At his best, Zaharakis can be a damaging and prolific ballwinner who kicks goals. We saw that in 2011 when he won a best-and-fairest. But his form was patchy before strong back-to-back 30-possession games against Geelong and West Coast.

15 STEVEN MOTLOP, 26 (Gee) — FREE AGENT

One of the biggest headscratchers in the player talent pool this year. Two years ago his slingshot run and carry from the midfield was one of the most exhilarating weapons in footy, but he had a shocking finals series last year and the Cats tried to trade him, without success. Might be one of the most hot and cold players in the league. Rival clubs watching him closely are still confused. Maybe a club such as Port Adelaide would like his speed, given the links to coach Ken Hinkley.

16 JASPER PITTARD, 26 (PA) — FREE AGENT

Dashing defender takes the game on and wins high possession numbers from halfback. Those sorts of game-breaking backmen always appeal. But the mail out of Adelaide is he is happy to stay and a fresh deal might not be far away.