Collingwood faces a negotiation conundrum with one of its most beloved stars amid rival interest, while St Kilda has a crunch call to make on its skipper.

Plus, the “pretty rare” situation that could see a superstar’s departure fast-tracked, and the “low-risk, high-yield” move that could be made at the Kennel.

On Fox Footy’s digital-only show Tackle the Headline, Herald Sun panellists Lauren Wood, Scott Gullan and Josh Barnes discussed four of the toughest contract and trade decisions at clubs this October.

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ADAM TRELOAR (WESTERN BULLDOGS)

An All-Australian last year, the 32-year-old Treloar’s season has been cruelled by calf injuries; playing just four senior games — the lowest tally of his career.

But the out-of-contract midfielder is participating in Footscray’s VFL finals campaign in a bid to extend his decorated career.

Wood: “Our colleague Jon Ralph is reporting that Adam Treloar could have a one-year deal on the table if he gets through the VFL finals series, but it’s hard to argue against Adam not being in this category of the tough decisions that the Bulldogs are going to have to make in the coming weeks.”

Gullan: “I like that they’ve made him play for it; he’s done that of his own volition. He could’ve gone ‘oh, I’ll sit this out, this season was a waste, I’ll be fit, I’ll be fine’.

“I like that the Bulldogs are looking at only a one-year deal. I don’t think he’s going to get a deal anywhere else.”

Barnes: “I think he provides good midfield depth, but you’d have to be so sure that he’s going to be fit and playing. I think other clubs would look at him if he was on the market, but it’s going to be a cheap deal. He’s looking at one of the biggest downgrades in cash we’ve seen. He was (on) about $1 million … that deal is over now.

“He’s a great club person … he brings a lot to that side of things. I think it’s a low-risk, high-yield move.”

Fellow veteran, 33-year-old Tom Liberatore, earned a one-year contract in August.

The 15 out of contract players in Finals | 02:57

JAMIE ELLIOTT (COLLINGWOOD)

The evergreen star has booted a career-best 56 goals this year, earning a place in the All-Australian squad before narrowly missing out on a maiden team selection.

Elliott remains without a deal for next year amid serious interest from Gold Coast, and there’s a question over how Collingwood should be going about negotiating with the 33-year-old.

Gullan: “Is it a hardball thing? Or is it ‘you’ve been so good to us, do you want to go, you tell us why’, and he’ll probably say ‘I need a change of scenery to finish my career’.

“But the hole he’s leaving — would Collingwood be a bit reticent and go ‘do you want a bit more money? Does Collingwood play the ‘you owe us nothing, off you go’, or do they go ‘hang on, we might fight for this’?”

Barnes: “I think of all those older guys that Collingwood’s been to-ing and fro-ing about keeping or not, he is the one they have to pay overs to keep, because if you took him out of that side right now, they’re in trouble.

“It’s no coincidence that his poor form at the back end of the year coincided with Collingwood’s poor form, and I don’t think they win the flag this year unless he fires.

“The other forwards aren’t really getting it done right now, so they have to keep him, because they want to win the flag next year.

“It makes sense to me that if you want to give him an extra $200,000, you probably have to do it with Jamie Elliott.”

Elliott’s forward-line teammate Brody Mihocek also remains uncontracted as the off-season approaches.

Dees edge closer to new coach | 02:59

JACK STEELE (ST KILDA)

Movement speculation has surrounded Steele — who is contracted through 2027 — in the second half of the season as reports purport disenchantment amid the Moorabbin club’s bevy of imports.

The 29-year-old club captain this year averaged just 20.9 disposals per game — his lowest mean since 2016 at the Giants — and was curiously named sub in St Kilda’s Round 21 win over North Melbourne.

Wood: “He’s clearly not at his best in that midfield; we’ve got a significant influx of players (arriving) at Moorabbin — that’s an understatement to say the least.”

Gullan: “Player harmony, they love him, he’s crucial to the locker room. And then you’ve got Ross and the list guys. Remember, even early days, he wasn’t sure about Jack in Ross way — and I think he now loves him, loves the way he plays — but making him the sub, and (these) little messages were almost preparing him and Saints fans for ‘if we pull the bullet on him, we’re prepared to do it’.

“If a club comes to us — I think that’s what they’re waiting for. If an opposition club bowls up a first-round pick or a juicy deal, they can go ‘yep, no worries’. But they’ve got to understand, bringing Tom De Koning in, if Rowan Marshall goes, there are a bit of harmony things that they have to be across here.”

Barnes: “That (West Coast) is the kind of club we’re looking for. He’s not the kind of player that puts you over the top. Like, we know Hawthorn is scouting around for an A-grade midfielder — that’s not Jack Steele that’s going to be that kind of guy. It’s probably a rebuilding team that wants the leadership in there.

“You’re paying all these people (recruits) millions and millions of dollars, and then you’re probably moving him (Steele) out because you don’t want really to pay him — what about the millions you’ve spent on everyone else? That has to rip the fabric of the locker room.”

In addition to De Koning, the Saints are set to welcome swingman Jack Silvagni, forward Liam Ryan, defender Leek Aleer, and have been linked to Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders.

Draper tells Dons he will depart | 00:24

ZAK BUTTERS (PORT ADELAIDE)

Of these four names, pre-agent Butters is the least likely to have a big call made on his future this off-season — but there’s still a high likelihood he’s the centre of attention come the final days of the trade period.

The 25-year-oldis being tipped to return home to Victoria once his contract expires next year, with the likes of Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Essendon thought to be the likeliest potential suitors.

Gullan: “This is a trade week special, isn’t it? This is a second-last day of trade week (situation). Trade radio has been banging on for two weeks, and suddenly, a club might go to Port … Zak is a man of his word, I’m told, and he has said ‘I am going to see this contract out’, and then he’s going. He hasn’t made any secret of that, Port knows that.

“But if Port went to him and go ‘one of these clubs (like the Bulldogs or Essendon, or one of the ones he wants to go to) have come to us with this amazing offer, would you consider going now?

“And it would be up to Port (to say) … we want you to stay with Josh Carr for his first year, you’re our vice-captain, you’re a superstar — but right now, we could get three first-round picks, we’re going to do this. That’s the scenario.”

Barnes: “It has to be something like that, but nobody really has that capital to do it. Essendon has two picks in the top 10, but Zak’s probably going ‘I’m not going to Tullamarine’.

“If Carlton can flip Charlie Curnow and get a haul for him, do you go to Port Adelaide (thinking) ‘if we get this, can we get that?’ That’s probably the kind of thing you’re looking at.

“Those kinds of deals are pretty rare, (but) that’s the only way I think it could happen. And then, Zak, who we know wants to be on the western side of town, does he want to play at Ikon Park? That’s another question.”