"To the credit of both clubs they worked pretty hard over the weekend. We were in constant dialogue, the three parties.

"[St Kilda] was meeting with other clubs today to try to get a positive outcome for the Fremantle football club so I'm hoping that either tonight or tomorrow morning Belly [Dockers football manager Peter Bell] might get it across the line."

Hill is tipped to be headed for a hefty five-year Saints deal at almost $900,000 a season to continue his playing days at a third club.

The triple Hawthorn premiership centreliner and 2017 Dockers fairest-and-best has played 149 games but his trade will help Fremantle possibly secure All-Australian youth stars Deven Robertson, a classy midfielder, and emerging athletic ruck talent Luke Jackson.

- with Kim Hagdorn