AFL trade news: Collingwood unable to contact Clayton Oliver with GWS Giants ahead in race to lure Demons star

GWS appear to be firming as Clayton Oliver’s new AFL home, with Collingwood struggling to contact the midfielder.

Since Oliver was told by Melbourne and their new coach Steven King to explore his options, he has visited the Giants for meetings with key personnel and to look at their facilities.

The Magpies were said to also be suitors for Oliver, but coach Craig McRae was unsure on Wednesday about whether their list manager Justin Leppitsch had made contact.

“I’m not privy to the conversation ... it has been hard to get hold of Clayton, I will say that. He must be having a good time in Sydney,” McRae said.

Oliver has made it clear he is impressed with the GWS facilities, while also taking a swipe at the Demons.

Asked on Tuesday what he liked about Collingwood, the 28-year-old said: “What do I like about them? I like them better than Melbourne, that’s for sure.”

The four-time Melbourne best-and-fairest winner has started following GWS on Instagram, not Collingwood, and has clicked “unfollow” on the Demons’ account.

Teammate Christian Petracca appears destined for Gold Coast, provided the Suns can seal a deal with the Demons.

Gold Coast boosted their draft hand on Wednesday by receiving pick seven in exchange for contracted midfielder Sam Flanders moving to St Kilda.

Sydney have confirmed they are not in the race for Oliver, their focus on attempting to prise Charlie Curnow out of Carlton.

Two-time premiership Lion Brandon Starcevich has officially moved to West Coast, with Fremantle joining a three-way trade to get the deal over the line.

The Eagles gave picks 16 and 22 to Brisbane and 23 to Fremantle, while landing the Dockers’ picks 12 and 33, with the Dockers also taking the Lions’ pick 19.

Starcevich is one of three departures from last month’s grand final-winning team, alongside Callum Ah Chee (set to join Adelaide) and Oscar McInerney (retirement).

“We’re disappointed to see a player of Brandon’s quality leave,” Lions list manager Dom Ambrogio said.

“However, aside from the free agents we have targeted to bring in, our main aim in this trade period is to strengthen our draft hand, and we feel this trade has accomplished that.”

With the Starcevich deal confirmed, paperwork was lodged on Wednesday for West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen to join the Lions as a restricted free agent.

Also on Wednesday, Fremantle secured defender Judd McVee from Melbourne for pick No.23.