The trade race for a premiership Eagles star is heating up.

But while West Coast faces the prospect of losing him, its chances of landing a rival star are growing.

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THIRD CLUB ENTERS RACE FOR CONTRACTED STAR

Hawthorn has entered the growing race for premiership Eagle Tom Barrass, per multiple reports.

Barrass, who won West Coast’s best and fairest award in 2022, is contracted to the Eagles until at least the end of the 2027 season.

But that hasn’t stopped rival clubs flagging their interest in Barrass, who they believe could be lured east out of the Eagles at season’s end.

Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs both linked to the key defender in recent months.

Now, according to both 7News Melbourne and 9 News Melbourne, the Hawks have joined the race for Barrass.

9 News Melbourne reporter Tom Morris said the Hawks had “asked the question” of Barrass, while 7News Melbourne journalist Mitch Cleary indicated Hawthorn would be well placed from a salary cap perspective to accommodate both Barrass and St Kilda’s Josh Battle, who’s been heavily linked to the Hawks in recent weeks.

Asked directly if the Hawks had any interest in Barrass, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell told Channel 7’s Talking Footy: “Every player at the moment who’s a free agent, I think we’ve been linked to all of them.

“I think that market is something that’s changed enormously since I finished playing. It’s not fair for coaches to talk about what players are doing in the positions that they’re in.

“Every head coach would love to improve their list for next year – and whether that’s through draft, free agency or trade, they’re all ways to do it. So any talented players we think will help[p us, we’ll obviously be talking to.”

Mitchell, who played with then coached Barrass at West Coast, indicated the club would love to add a full-back and a centre half-forward to Hawthorn’s list.

The Bulldogs are seen as the front-runner for Barrass, with Morris reporting the Dogs were prepared to offer him “at least five years” to move.

The Pies and Bulldogs are both without 2024 first-round picks – Collingwood offloaded its first-round choice in last year’s Lachie Schultz trade, while the Bulldogs let theirs go in a 2023 swap of picks with Gold Coast – but are armed with future capital

Barrass last month downplayed any speculation of a move.

“I am a West Coast Eagles player and unless the rug gets pulled out from under my feet I will stay that way,” he said.

“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 is hardly a story. AFL clubs chasing an established key position player,” he said.

“It is the currency of football so I wouldn’t be reading into it too much.”

RUCK’S CALL DOWN TO TWO … AND ‘WARMING TO IDEA’ OF MOVE

While the Eagles remain determined to see Barrass see out his contract, they’re also keen to acquire All-Australian ruck Tim English.

And according to multiple reports, West Coast is the only club English would move to should he decide to depart the Western Bulldogs.

English, who’s eligible for free agency at season’s end, is a West Australian native.

There have been suggestions rival Victorian clubs are interested in English, who earned his maiden All-Australian blazer last year.

But 7News Perth and The West Australian reported on Wednesday that English had narrowed the call on his future to two possibilities: Remain at the Bulldogs or move to the Eagles, who’ve reportedly tabled a six-year offer for him.

There have been reports this year all signs are pointing to English re-signing with the Dogs on a big-money deal.

But Channel 7 reporter Ryan Daniels on Wednesday wrote on X that English had “warmed to the idea of joining the rebuilding Eagles”, adding the WA lifestyle had “strong appeal”.

Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane said the fact English still remained out of contract beyond this season was “alarming signs” for the Dogs.

“When you get to this stage of a year and no one is even looking at the contract at this stage, that (he leaves) is what you start thinking,” McFarlane told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“There’s no sign from him at this stage he’ll actually do it. It’d be a big call to go from a team that could contend in the next few years to a team that’s probably going to sit down the bottom of the ladder for a period of time.”

English has played 126 games for the Bulldogs since being drafted with Pick 19 in the 2016 draft.