There's no other week on the football calendar quite like trade week. The season proper has ended. The Spring Racing Carnival starts dominating sports bulletins. St Kilda footballers begin to feel scandalous. The back pages of newspapers are rife with speculation about stalled contract negotiations, unsettled footballers and players seeking a return to their state-of-origin.

As far as supporters are concerned, it's like searching for a new house. They embark on lustrous inspections, strolling across steam-cleaned carpets and through exorbitant ensuites, temporarily repressing the constraints of money and, rather frequently, reality.

Was there a single Victorian supporter in 2006, for example, who didn't secretly imagine Chris Judd wearing their side's jumper?

So, for once, let's be realistic about trade week. If fantasy is your prerogative, go read Vonnegut! Let's forget about the likes of Mitch Clark, Kurt Tippett and Brendon Goddard. Here are five potential trades which, on the surface, appear viable:

Alan Toovey (Collingwood) to Fremantle

Collingwood's former coach Mick Malthouse persevered with Toovey for years, despite considerable supporter backlash. In recent seasons he has flourished as the club's number one tagger. However Toovey's value in Collingwood's new regime remains to be seen.

He is believed to have asked for a hefty pay rise. This puts Collingwood in a difficult position as, generally speaking, it is difficult to justify a handsome wage for a tagger.

Toovey heralds from Claremont, which might hold some sway with him. He is only 24 years old, which is roughly halfway through his career. If there is a right time to move, this is it.

He is seemingly the perfect fit for Ross Lyon's highly accountable style of football. He might also be considered a better bet as a stopper than Ryan Crowley, who is three years older and lacks his consistency.

Jesse White (Sydney) to Brisbane

The Lions appear destined to lose big man Mitch Clark to one of the Western Australian clubs. It is a huge blow, as Clark has enormous potential. Another player with great potential is Sydney's Jesse White. For the most part, his potential has remained unfulfilled.

With the emergence of Sam Reid this season, White has had fewer opportunities in the Swans' forward line. The ‘sub' rule has arguably helped his cause as a ruckman/forward, but Shane Mumford possesses the tank to play up to 85% of the match in the centre.

Although White appears a little cumbersome up forward at times, he is generally a good mark and has an athletic frame. At the beginning of the season he weighed in at 107 kilograms. He needs to drop five kilograms to utilise his athleticism.

Considering that Matthew Leuenberger is going to assume the majority of the Lions' ruck responsibilities in seasons to come, the club will need a tall player who is a genuine threat up forward and can pinch hit in the ruck.

Jonathan Brown won't last forever, particularly if he continually attempts to commit suicide on a football field. White could be a good fit up forward. The Lions are likely to receive good remuneration for Clark, yet they won't need to give up too much to secure White.

Brent Renouf (Hawthorn) to Port Adelaide

Renouf sprung to prominence by playing a cameo role in Hawthorn's 2008 premiership side. In the past three seasons there has been ample opportunity for him to assume the Hawks' number one ruck position. For a variety of reasons, some quite unfortunate, he has failed to deliver.

Max Bailey has had a promising comeback season, culminating in a quality performance in the Hawks' agonising preliminary final defeat to Collingwood. If fit, Bailey will be the club's number one ruckman in 2012.

David Hale was a shrewd acquisition this time last year. Hale is more capable than Renouf up forward and is therefore a better fit for the balance of the team.

Jarryd Roughead has shown that he is capable of playing in the ruck if needed. If he is able to successfully return from an Achilles injury, Renouf's opportunities will further diminish.

Dean Brogan's short-lived retirement has left a notable hole in Port Adelaide's ruck stocks. By recruiting Renouf, they would provide healthy competition for the young, raw Matthew Lobbe and the physically underdeveloped Daniel Stewart.

Renouf's management is believed to be in discussions with the Power.

Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide) to St Kilda

Pearce appeared to have the football world at his feet when he won the 2006 NAB Rising Star. At the beginning of his career Port Adelaide was a quality side propped up by the likes of Tredrea, Lade, Brogan, the Cornes brothers and the Burgoyne brothers.

Pearce was able to begin his career playing predominantly as an ‘outside' midfielder. As the Power has declined in recent seasons, he has struggled to take his game to the next level.

Matthew Primus dropped Pearce earlier this season, following a poor run of form. Primus didn't appear to have the reinvigorating effect upon the dangerous left-footer that many Port supporters might have hoped. Perhaps it is time for the 25-year-old to look elsewhere?

There is always room for a good finisher with pace in AFL football. Each club can prop up one or two offensive-minded players even if their endeavour is, at times, questionable.

St. Kilda might be a good fit for Pearce. The Saints could do with an injection of pace into their side. Pearce's skills are far superior to the likes of Brett Peake and Jason Gram, who have patrolled the wings in recent seasons.

Xavier Ellis (Hawthorn) to North Melbourne

Ellis - who has a distinct left-sided gait - looked to be a prodigious talent when he was taken with pick three in the 2005 national draft. He stood up in the 2008 grand final in a game which, in retrospect, should have been the making of him.

However Ellis hasn't made the progress the Hawks' hierarchy might have liked in the past three seasons. He played every game in 2010, yet was dropped on several occasions in 2011 and seemingly usurped by younger players.

Ellis has always had polish. Yet Isaac Smith has more polish. Paul Puopolo is tougher and more physical. Shane Savage is quicker. Matthew Suckling is a better quarterback. And Liam Shiels' reputation is on the rise in a midfield which already bats quite deep.

North Melbourne has some genuine stars in their midfield. Brent Harvey is nearing the end. Andrew Swallow is an absolute gun. Jack Ziebell is on his way. Daniel Wells is playing career-best football.

Considering the nature of rotations, all AFL midfields must go at least seven to eight players deep (as was evidenced by Geelong on grand final day).

North Melbourne has some talented youngsters who are likely to rotate through the midfield in 2012, such as Shaun Atley, Ryan Bastinac and Ben Cunnington, but they could definitely do with a mature, left-footed player to deliver the ball inside 50.

Hawthorn might be willing to deal with North Melbourne, as they probably don't see them as a direct premiership threat. Perhaps St Kilda should have taken such variables into consideration when ‘holding their ground' over Luke Ball this time two years ago?

Enjoy the pandemonium of trade week!