THE FUTURE of Western Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Honeychurch won't be decided until after next month's free agency and trade periods. 

AFL.com.au understands the out-of-contract 22-year-old has been told by the Bulldogs they can't offer him a new deal until they know how many spots they'll have on their list following the NAB AFL free agency and trade windows. 

It's also possible the Eastern Ranges product could find a new club in the exchange period, with Essendon and Adelaide showing interest in him last year. 

2017 proved to be a frustrating year for Honeychurch, as he was a solid performer in the VFL before finally earning a senior recall in round 13.

He then played the next six games until a facial infection following round 19 sidelined him for several weeks. 

Honeychurch has played just 22 games in four seasons at Whitten Oval since being taken with pick 60 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

He and forward Stewart Crameri remain the only two senior-listed Bulldogs without a contract for next season, with AFL.com.au reporting last month Essendon had made enquiries to Crameri's management about bringing him back to Tullamarine.

That interest may have waned with coach John Worsfold confirming the Bombers are in the hunt to recruit fellow Dogs forward Jake Stringer. 

With Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd retiring, and with Stringer likely to find a new home, the Dogs are on track to make the three mandatory changes to their senior list under AFL rules.

The Dogs will also have to make a call on Roarke Smith, with the luckless defender needing to be upgraded or delisted after being on the club's rookie list for the maximum three seasons. 

The 21-year-old, who has endured two knee reconstructions in the past 18 months, has impressed in two senior games but just needs some luck to realise his full potential. 

Fellow rookies Brad Lynch and Nathan Mullenger-McHugh are expected to be retained by the Bulldogs after they delisted injury-prone midfielder Josh Prudden last week.