4pm UPDATE: In a lively opening day of trade week at Etihad Stadium, Irishman Marty Clarke has secured a return Collingwood, Carlton announced that Setanta O'hAilpin and Paul Bower had both requested a move and Mitch Clark's attempts to get out of Brisbane have further developed.

Clarke will return to the Westpac Centre having been pre-listed by Greater Western Sydney, and comes along with highly rated 19-year old Victorian Jamie Elliot and the 67th pick in this year's national draft. In return, GWS bolster their already overflowing cup of draft picks, gaining pick 25. Clarke played 46 games mainly across half-back for the Magpies in three years from 2007 before returning to Ireland to play with side County Down.

Another Irishman, O'hAilpin was shopped, along with Bower, by Blues' CEO Greg Swann, who said that as both players were out of contract they were now discussing their options at the Blues and at other clubs. Swann will be using the next week or so to assess the demand for his players, test the waters, and ultimately decide with them whether they'd like to re-sign or move on.

Another incomplete deal is Mitch Clark's hopeful exodus from Brisbane. Clark's homesickness kicked in recently and has asked the club to be transferred home to Western Australia, with his club of choice reportedly Fremantle. Talent Manager Rob Kerr was playing hardball though, noting that that there was "next to no movement" all day, and the value placed on him by Brisbane and Fremantle, was widely different. West Coast's Neale Daniher was clear he thought the preliminary finalist was still in the race, which was confirmed by Kerr who thought their deal "was better than the Dockers'." Kerr left no one unsure of what the Lions felt was reasonable -- a first-round pick plus a quality player for the up and coming ruckman.

With St Kilda needing to shed some players to get back under the salary cap, Football Director Chris Pelchen was clear though that neither Nick Dal Santo nor Brendon Goddard would be on the table. He also thought the total player payments (TPP) issue the club was experienced had been overblown by the media. Pelchen, however, didn't rule out players like Zac Dawson and Brett Peake being traded and added the Saints were "still negotiating with these guys" on their contracts and then, should that break down, on a possible trade.

In other news:

• Carlton CEO Greg Swann ruled out chasing Brendon Goddard.
• West Coast and Port Adelaide are in discussions to help homesick Brad Ebert. West Coast believe he's worth a first-round pick, but the Power are hoping to hold on to that, and have offered their second-round pick. Football Operations Manager Neale Daniher said they were "just looking for a fair deal ... [something] better than what Port is offering." Daniher also said his club remains firmly in the hunt for Brisbane ruckman Mitch Clark.
• Kangaroos coach Brad Scott was again at pains to reinforce that Hamish McIntosh wouldn't be leaving the club. It seems at this point the media is much more keen on continuing that conversation than anyone inside an AFL club.
• Gold Coast's Marcus Ashcroft declared he had no interest in Adelaide's Kurt Tippett and would be keen just to retain their current young talent, rather than adding any more experienced players to its stable.

EARLIER | In trade week, there's usually enough rumour and innuendo to power the lights at Etihad Stadium, and this year is no exception. Big names like Brendon Goddard, Alan Toovey, Leon Davis, Mitch Clarke and Hamish McIntosh have all been thrown around, and we'll wait to see which of them ultimately eventuate.

Before the exchange period had even begun, speculation was rife at St Kilda. Having exceeded their salary cap, the club was instructed by the AFL to shed players and come back under the limit. And players such as Brendon Goddard, Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson and Farren Ray were thrown up as possible trade bait.

But, in the absence of a senior coach, St Kilda's football boss Chris Pelchen today ruled out both Goddard and Gilbert, despite rumoured interest from Carlton in the former, a one-time No.1 draft pick. But Pelchen left the others up in the air, making the Saints certain players in this trade period.

Brisbane will be active too, as BPL colleague Murray Middleton noted, with Mitch Clark wanting to go home to Fremantle. The Lions are disappointed, though understanding of his predicament, and said they'll be looking to be compensated with a first-round pick plus a player. The Western Bulldogs' Ben Hudson shapes as the likely replacement, and the Lions will hope to get him to the Gabba, perhaps as part of a three-way deal.

While Kangaroos' ruckman Hamish McIntosh could have been a replacement, with his name being bandied around for the best part of half the season, coach Brad Scott reinforced this morning that he would absolutely not be leaving the club.

Reports of discontent are also swirling around Collingwood players Alan Toovey and Leon Davis. Despite that, Pies' football director Geoff Walsh today was quick to quash speculation about both players, saying they would not be traded.

Walsh said Toovey was a required player, and figured in the club's future plans, while Davis had spoken to new coach Nathan Buckley and had agreed to stay at Collingwood, rather than seeking to go back to Western Australia as had been touted.

This morning's opening to trade week also included the father/son nominations, which resulted in Barry Mitchell's son Tom joining the Swans, Jim Buckley's son Dylan going to Carlton and Jed Bews, son of former Geelong captain Andrew, joining the Cattery.

The system isn't as simple as it used to be, with other clubs now also having the opportunity to bid on the youngsters, and while no clubs offered the Blues or Cats any resistance, Tom Mitchell's potential was spotted by the Dockers. They offered their first-round pick - No.16 - which the Swans were forced to match with their pick 21.

Sydney coach John Longmire was beaming at the opportunity to pick up Mitchell relatively cheaply, given the compromised draft. He also flagged that given their recent track record in giving players strong opening seasons Mitchell can also expect lots of game time next year.

With an extended period this year, going out all the way until next Monday, we can expect a slow build-up as clubs balance their existing players with the players they think they'll need to win themselves a premiership.