Demons' Hannan on Western Bulldogs' trade radar
The Western Bulldogs have turned their attention to uncontracted Melbourne forward Mitch Hannan, registering an interest in the former Footscray VFL premiership player as they look to beef up their forward line during this year's exchange period.
The 26-year-old was recruited to Melbourne with pick No.46 in the 2016 national draft after starring for Footscray in the VFL that season, playing in the club's premiership when they defeated the Casey Demons in the grand final.
He played 20 games in his first season at the Demons, kicking a goal in each of Melbourne's three finals in 2018 including a running, three-bounce goal in the elimination final that sealed the club's first finals win for 12 seasons.
However Hannan fell out of favour at Melbourne this season and was dropped a couple of times, playing just nine games for the season. He was not in the team when Melbourne dropped out of finals contention at the end of the season with consecutive losses in Cairns to Sydney and Fremantle.
The Bulldogs are in the market for a tall to support Tim English in the ruck, with coach Luke Beveridge admitting after their elimination final that their aerial power was lacking, as well as a crumbing forward.
Although they have been linked to St Kilda's Jack Lonie, they are not pursuing him with Hannan capable of being both a lead-up and crumbing forward.
Melbourne's Mitch Hannan is on the Bulldogs' radar.Credit:Getty Images
Clever forward Mitch Wallis was their leading goalkicker this season but he lacks Hannan's pace while highly rated draft selection Cody Weightman will emerge having shown his talent in three games in his first season.
The Demons drafted emerging small forward Kysaiah Pickett last season who showed his talent in his first AFL season, while Bailey Fritsch cemented his spot as a mid-sized marking forward.
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Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age covering AFL, horse racing and other sports.