The Bulldogs have met with Suckling since the grand final and have informed Hawthorn of their interest in the two-time premiership player, who is an unrestricted free agent and can simply leave the premiers.

The Bulldogs have offered him a three-year deal and he is a serious chance to accept.

Suckling has a strong relationship with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who was his line coach at Hawthorn from 2012 until 2014. Beveridge rates Suckling highly and the Dogs are keen to secure him as a free agent signing.

Hawthorn, which would prefer to retain Suckling, have an extremely tight salary cap and a limited capacity to pay the players who remain out of contract.

The Hawks have yet to make a revised offer to Suckling, who had been a target of Brisbane Lions.