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Hawk Smith joins Cats as AFL free agent

Hawthorn triple-premiership winger Isaac Smith has joined AFL rivals Geelong as an unrestricted free agent on a two-year deal.

The Hawks confirmed Smith, 31, would depart after 210 games in brown and gold, which included playing a crucial role in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 premierships.

Hawthorn were keen to keep Smith while Melbourne were also in the race for his services before Geelong won out.

"Issie has been a part of a lot of success during his time at Hawthorn and has given our club a decade of valuable service," Hawthorn football boss Graham Wright said.

"As an unrestricted free agent, Issie exercised his right to explore the market, that's the nature of the mechanism of free agency."

GWS speedster Zac Williams is one step closer to joining Carlton with the Blues lodging paperwork for the restricted free agent with the AFL on Friday.

Williams, 26, expressed his desire to join the Blues in September after 113 games for GWS.

The Giants have three days to decide whether they will match Carlton's offer and force a trade.

But they are unlikely to match Carlton's offer for Williams as he is set to join the Blues on a lucrative long-term deal - one that is likely to secure the Giants a first-round draft pick as compensation.

Once Williams is secured, the Blues are set to turn their attentions to securing Essendon half-back Adam Saad when the trade period kicks off on Wednesday, November 4.

The Giants are set for a bumper free agency and trade period with Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) and Aidan Corr (North Melbourne), also restricted free agents, keen to depart.

Jye Caldwell (Essendon), Zac Langdon (West Coast) and Jackson Hately (Adelaide) have requested trades.

Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss wants to join the Giants, while GWS are considering a move for Fremantle key forward Jesse Hogan.

The free agency window opened on Friday morning, with Gold Coast kicking off proceedings by lodging a contract offer to Adelaide's Rory Atkins.

As an unrestricted free agent, Atkins can join the Suns immediately.

Atkins played 101 games for Adelaide, including the 2017 Grand Final loss, but fell out of favour under Matthew Nicks this year, making just four AFL appearances.