The interest from rival clubs for Tom Barrass continues to mount, with both the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn honing in hard on the star intercept defender’s services.

As the Dogs – and to a lesser extent Hawthorn – suddenly bolt into the premiership window, Barrass has become the gettable key back that the two clubs now so desperately desire.

And as West Coast continue their hunt for a senior figure to replace premiership coach Adam Simpson, the clock is ticking for the Eagles to retain arguably their most valuable asset.

At 28 years of age, Barrass is in his absolute prime.

Having won the club’s best and fairest in 2022 – despite missing three games – he is rated extraordinarily highly internally, and with good reason.

And only missing just one game this year (Round 7 v Gold Coast), Barrass is on track to play the most games he ever has in an AFL season, despite his recent concussion that has ruled him out of Round 21 (ironically also against the Suns).

2024 SEASON AVERAGES

15.5 DISPOSALS

8 INTERCEPT POSSESSIONS

7.6 MARKS

7.5 SPOILS

3.8 INTERCEPT MARKS

87.6% KICKING EFFICIENCY

Second only in the league to Brisbane counterpart Harris Andrews for intercept marks this season, this guy is the bee’s knees for not just the Eagles, but clubs like the Hawks and Dogs – and you don’t have to look back far in history to see why.

Foxfooty.com.au understands that in tandem with family living on the east coast, Adam Simpson’s exit from West Coast earlier this month has also left the star intercept defender much more open to leaving the Eagles’ nest.

The last month has left nothing but intrigue for pundits predicting Barrass’ whereabouts in 2025, with any move away from the royal blue and yellow to contradict his own comments only last month.

“I am a West Coast Eagles player, and unless the rug gets pulled out from under my feet I will stay that way,” Barrass said to the media late last month.

“I am really excited about what we are doing here and I am really excited about some of the talent.

“It happens every year and it’s hardly a story – AFL clubs chasing an established key position player … it’s the currency of football, so I wouldn’t be reading into it too much.”

Barrass – who is contracted until the end of 2027 – initially put Eagles fans at ease with his comments, but speculation on his future has continued to play out; perhaps indicating that when there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Interim Eagles coach Jarrad Schofield was asked on Barrass’ future on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night, pointing to his history of loyalty.

“In short, I have no input in that at the moment because I’m only the interim coach … He’s a life member of the footy club now (having played 150 club games), and I’m sure list management and his management and Tom will work through that,” Schofield said.

“He’s got three years, he’s a West Coast player … He’s a deep thinker, and I think he handles it (the external attention) all in his stride. He’s one of our leaders, so he’s got responsibilities there and, on the weekend, he led really well.”

Around the same time as Barrass’ comments to the media, SEN’s Sam Edmund reported that Barrass was ‘chasing’ a two-year contract extension with the Eagles that would see him locked away until the end of 2029.

Clearly, Barrass has been loyal publicly in his commitment to the Eagles, but with a change in circumstance on several fronts since he last spoke out, there could well be a lot more to play out.

So, in a year where the league’s hot commodity has put pen to paper quicker than usual, is Barrass now the biggest catch on the market?

THE MARKET’S GOLDEN FOWL

Like tall forwards, star key defenders are somewhat of a unicorn on the open market; in fact, you could argue there’s actually a shortage of them league-wide.

Essendon has seen the impact that a key defender recruit can do for the structure of one’s defence, with Ben McKay’s arrival from North Melbourne allowing the likes of Jordan Ridley and Jayden Laverde to free and hurt teams on the rebound.

Conversely, sides have been decimated with injury (and a lack of depth) in the defensive half, this season which is what makes Barrass’ seeming openness to moving so attractive to rival clubs.

Speaking to foxfooty.com.au, three-time Brisbane premiership player Jonathan Brown noted that given the current market for a player of Barrass’ silk, you can’t turn down his services if he comes running.

“As we’ve seen with Brisbane, you probably can’t have enough key defenders.” Brown said.

Only last weekend did Brisbane throw 171-gamer Eric Hipwood down in defence for the first time in his career, with his side in dire need of assistance with Harris Andrews, Tom Doedee, Darcy Gardiner, Darragh Joyce and Jack Payne all missing with injury.

Brisbane are the extreme example in this case, but on the other end of the spectrum sit potential buyers the Western Bulldogs – who are currently playing Alex Keath in the reserves team with Rory Lobb (successfully) plugging their club’s defensive hole.

And while there might not be many stars – let alone star defenders – still out of contract in 2024, that’s not to say clubs can’t come knocking – even if they’re contracted until for another three years like Barrass.

“Everyone comes at a price, don’t they?” Brown added.

“Any time you can add a quality player like Tom Barrass – a best and fairest winner, and premiership player – provided it’s not blowing on your salary, it’s a good thing … I suppose you (West Coast) work out what your list needs for the future.”

In reality, there are only very few clubs in the league right now that would look and Barrass and pass on his services – maybe Essendon, Fremantle, GWS and Melbourne – but beyond them, the 150-gamer would slot right in without much fuss.

All that being said, only three rival clubs have been linked to the defender – the Bulldogs, Hawthorn and earlier this year, Collingwood.

CAN THE DOGS AFFORD BARRASS?

Put simply, it would be a squeeze.

With Tim English’s commitment to Whitten Oval still very much in the air, there is a world were Barrass and English literally swap clubs as a result of the decision the other has made.

But beyond the 208cm ruck, the Bulldogs still endeavour to appease captain Marcus Bontempelli and young gun Sam Darcy.

The red-hot Adam Treloar is also out of contract at the end of next year – and while he’ll be 32 at the end of 2025, the Dogs will certainly reward his rich vein of form; and perhaps more than they first anticipated.

Such is the want for a player of Barrass’ calibre though, that list managers at the club will be hassling those with the funds for a spot on their list.

Working in tandem with the likes of Liam Jones and Bailey Dale in defence might just be the missing puzzle piece for the Dogs to win their second piece of silverware in the modern era.

By choice and design are the Dogs now in the market for a star key defender – even if the injured Ryan Gardner and James O’Donnell were back fit and firing.

And subsequently, the Bulldogs currently have a four-year deal on the table for Barrass, but as reported by Channel 9’s Tom Morris, that could increase to five if it was the difference between Barrass staying local or moving to Whitten Oval.

A move to the Kennel would make a lot of sense for both parties, especially with the Bulldogs now surging towards a third club premiership.

Salary cap space is probably the biggest obstacle for Luke Beveridge’s club, but with that four-year deal on the table, it’s clearly a possibility.

“The Bulldogs are a little bit different, they’ve been around the mark a few more years,” Jonathan Brown said to foxfooty.com.au.

“I’m not sure salary cap wise, but I would have a feeling that the Hawks’ salary cap would be better than the Bulldogs’.”

There is also the hurdle of not currently owning a first-round draft pick to trade with the Eagles, with only picks 31 and 44 at their disposal currently.

Out of the three rival clubs, they seem the likeliest to acquire Barrass’ services, but as we know – there’s still a lot to play out.

AND HOW KEEN ARE THE HAWKS TO POACH THE EAGLE?

Hawthorn, the talk of the town, have been linked back to Barrass – with coach Sam Mitchell’s shock flight over to Perth earlier this week sending their stocks in the defender skyrocketing.

The catch-up, first reported by Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary, is about as keen as a coach can get – flying across the country to meet in-person with a rival player.

The Hawks’ issue though? They already had several other high-profile players on their radar before they realised the star defender is gettable.

Any of Bailey Smith, Harry Perryman and Josh Battle will cost the Hawks north of $750,000 a year – and you would imagine Barrass is in a similar, if not slightly higher bracket.

For argument’s sake, we’ll say that Bailey Smith is more likely to leave for Geelong than Hawthorn – leaving Perryman, Battle and Barrass as the three main targets.

It would be extremely bold play for the Hawks to grab both Battle and Barrass as their key defenders; almost greedy, but they’ve got the cash to splash.

Mitchell is already proving himself to be the most active of the coaches when it comes to recruiting from rival clubs in 2024, and he’s already been making inroads on the potential recruitment of Battle.

So why Barrass?

Having the rival duo in their defence would free up once-swingman James Sicily greatly, and give Sam Frost a plethora of support in defence on the taller forwards.

That being said, it feels line-ball for the Hawks to go after both; despite the ungodly amount of cash they have to spend.

A more measured approach would arguably be to go after one of the two rival key defenders, and hone in on Harry Perryman.

With James Blanck set to return from his knee injury next year, depth is less of an issue at Hawthorn than what it is at the Dogs – so you could understand why they wouldn’t go as hard on Barrass given the already established connection with Battle.

And if the Hawks are going to make a genuine premiership tilt next year, the experience of Barrass and hopeful finals appearance this season would go a long way.

“I think it’s still important if Hawthorn are going to win a flag (next year), they need to play finals this year. I’m a big believer that you have to taste finals at least to win a premiership the next year,” Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown told foxfooty.com.au.

“We never see teams that don’t play finals and then go out and straight away win a premiership in the next year, so it’s still important that Hawthorn get that done (before acquiring Barrass).

“The Hawks probably (are best suited of the rival clubs) in terms of the need for another key defender; especially with the emergence of Rory Lobb. They look pretty good at either end of the moment the Bulldogs, so they could do without him.

“They’re also suited from a flexibility point of view; obviously, they’re not as loaded in the forward line as what the Bulldogs are.”

Sensical, or non-sensical, there is no denying the Hawks are interested in Barrass.

Their first-round pick gets them to the table of a trade, but it won’t be enough by itself; so do they go all-in on rival players this off-season, or still dip into this year’s draft pool?

AND A WORD FOR THE OTHER BIRD…

Collingwood were reported earlier in the year as interested in Barrass, but their eagerness seems to have somewhat fizzled.

A side with chinks in its defensive armour, the Magpies would welcome the 197cm tall with open wings.

AFL.com.au’s Callum Twomey was one of multiple journalists to flag the club’s intrigue in his future, and alluded to the fact that should the AFL allow for draft picks beyond one year in advance to be traded, they would be much further in the race for his services.

Like the Bulldogs, the Pies don’t own a first-round draft pick, with Pick 30 their first of three, which is why it would make sense for them to become far more involved with an amendment to rules around trading future picks.

With Jeremy Howe in his later years and Darcy Moore pleading for more aerial support, the inclusion of Barrass would lighten the load for not just the Collingwood captain, but it would also allow Isaac Quaynor to play more of a running game.

Until more interest comes back publicly for Barrass, it looks less likely he’ll be a Pie in 2025, but they are nonetheless a potential suitor.

SO, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE WEST COAST?

If – and it’s a big if – Barrass does want to depart the Eagles’ nest, the club can choose to take down one of two paths.

First and foremost, they could simply put their foot down and hold him to his contract.

He is a player contracted for three years beyond 2024, and at the very least, the club could choose to re-open conversations in 12 months.

It’s a very hard-line stance that is seen less and less these days, but given the length left on his deal, it is by no means out of the question.

That being said, as a premiership player, best and fairest winner and loyal servant of the club since 2015 – you would think if push came to real shove, the Eagles would excuse Barrass.

Which is the second of the two options, and right now, seems the more likely scenario to play out should he opt to leave – especially given the trade return they could get as a club in the midst of a rebuild.

And said Jonathan Brown points out, everyone has a price.

“Obviously, they’re not to be playing finals next year or the next couple of years I wouldn’t have thought, so you see what value you can get for a guy like Tom Barrass, and absolutely you look at it,” Brown said.

“You’ve got to get his price up, because he’s harder to replace (than most).

“You’d obviously consider it (a trade) strongly with the opportunity to put (his trade value) up and hasten your list build.

“Harley Reid’s shown some good signs, a couple of their younger fellas have come along, but I wouldn’t say they’ve whacked it out of the park the last decade in terms of their early picks.”

“They need to get moving from a youth list talent point of view.”

For the Eagles, a Barrass departure could truly be what boosts their stocks for a premiership tilt in the next half a decade.

There is always the uncertainty with taking young players in the draft, which is why West Coast could be inclined to stick with what (and who) they know – even if they have plans to eventually.

But, opportunities such as this don’t come about often; especially ahead of a draft that is touted to have plenty of midfield depth.

Whether the Eagle stays west or flies east remains to be seen, but either way – there will be no shortage of eyes on the league star.