The Western Bulldogs have bared their teeth for the start of AFL Trade Week, engaging in "robust" discussions in a bid to secure Brisbane's Justin Sherman.

The Bulldogs also completed a father-son double by taking Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore.

Meanwhile, Fremantle say they're keen to help Chris Tarrant return to his former club Collingwood.

Sherman has nominated the Bulldogs as his preferred club.

Brisbane coach Michael Voss says the Lions could lose Sherman or uncontracted player Jared Brennan, but they would prefer not to let both go.

Sherman has a year running on his contract and the Bulldogs might have to give up the Gold Coast compensation pick they received for Jarrod Harbrow to secure him.

Clubs had their initial round of official trade talks on Tuesday at Etihad Stadium and so far no deals have been confirmed.

"We've spoken to Brisbane and we had some pretty robust conversations today," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia told reporters.

"It might be a bit early, but we're confident we can certainly work our way through and try and come up with a deal that would appease Brisbane, for sure."

With the retirements of Jason Akermanis, Brad Johnson and Nathan Eagleton, the Bulldogs are also chasing 21-year-old Sydney forward Patrick Veszpremi.

"He's keen to come home so we're willing to work with he and his manager and the Doggies and see what happens," Sydney's new coach John Longmire said.

Fantasia said he was "absolutely" confident the Bulldogs could pick up Sherman and Veszpremi.

"We're certainly not leaving any stone unturned to see if we can upgrade our list," Fantasia said.

The Bulldogs gave up pick 22 for Wallis and No.40 for Liberatore.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have two boys we rated in the top 20," Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple said.

Mitch is the son of former Bulldogs captain Steve Wallis.

Tom's father Tony Liberatore won the 1990 Brownlow Medal.

Brennan and Sherman are on the radar of several clubs but there is an upside for Brisbane, who will receive salary cap relief by at least one of their departures.

Carlton and Gold Coast are circling for the uncontracted Brennan, who has announced his desire to be traded, while Sherman has been linked to the Bulldogs and Richmond.

"Jared Brennan's been talked about so, whether he wants to move we will try and do a deal," Voss told AAP.

"He (Sherman) is a required player, very much a required player, but from there it's what unfolds.

"It's more one, realistically we are conceding the fact we have lost one, but to lose both would be a stretch for us."

Voss said losing Michael Rischitelli to the Suns provided them with an additional high draft selection but they needed a similarly high pick in exchange for either 26-year-old Brennan (119 matches) or the 23-year-old Sherman (114) for a trade to eventuate.

"We come into the trade with open ears but at the same time we are only dipping our toe in the water rather than sticking our foot in there," Voss said.

Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said the Dockers would give the Magpies first crack at a deal for Tarrant, 30.

"We'll just talk through Collingwood first and see if that can get done," Bond said.

"But we're happy to fall back on other clubs."

Leading player agent Ricky Nixon said Richmond's Richard Tambling, North Melbourne ruck/forward David Hale and Western Bulldogs big man Andrejs Everitt "will get somewhere".

"But we don't know which clubs at this stage," Nixon said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP