AFL trade news: Western Bulldogs a new suitor for Hawthorn's Matt Suckling

The Western Bulldogs have made a strong bid for Hawthorn premiership player and free agent Matt Suckling.

The Bulldogs have met with Suckling since the grand final and have informed the Hawks of their interest in the two-time premiership player, who is an unrestricted free agent and can simply leave the premiers if he wishes.

The Bulldogs have offered him a three-year deal, which he is a serious chance to accept.

Suckling has a strong relationship with Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge, who was Suckling's line coach when he was in charge of the Hawthorn backline from 2012 until 2014. Beveridge rates Suckling highly and the Dogs are keen to secure him as a free agent signing.

Hawthorn, which would prefer to retain Suckling, have an extremely tight salary cap and a limited capacity to pay the players who remain out of contract, with key position player Ryan Schoenmakers to be offered a new deal amid interest from Sydney and other clubs.

The Hawks have yet to make a revised offer to Suckling, who had been a target of the Brisbane Lions. The Lions withdrew, in part because of a wish to secure better compensation for free agent Matthew Leuenberger, who is weighing up whether to join Essendon or Sydney.

Suckling missed Hawthorn's 2013 flag due to a knee reconstruction, but recovered and played in both the 2014 and 2015 premiership sides, starting as the sub in the latter side despite playing a crucial role in the preliminary final victory over Fremantle.

The Hawks have shown some interest in Carlton's Chris Yarran, but sources familiar with Yarran's situation said Yarran was "highly unlikely" to be traded to Hawthorn since he was all but committed to joining Richmond, subject to a trade being struck with the Blues.

Suckling, 27, would provide the Bulldogs with coverage for their older running defenders Matthew Boyd and Bob Murphy, though the Hawk can also play on a wing. Suckling's major asset is his penetrating left boot.

If Suckling joins the Dogs, the Hawks would receive a compensation pick in the upcoming national draft. The selection would hinge on the terms of the contract given to him by the Dogs. Hawthorn cannot match the offer and seek to retain him.

The Hawks are not planning to be major players in the free agency and trade period. They are focusing on bringing younger players through rather than topping up with proven players, as they have done in each of the past six seasons. Under that tactic they acquired premiership players Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson (2009), David Hale (2010), Jack Gunston (2011), Brian Lake (2012), Ben McEvoy (2013) and James Frawley (2014).