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GWS is set to be one of the busiest teams this trade period, with several players linked to moves.
And the club’s general manager of football Jason McCartney has addressed the four key Giants set to depart ahead of the exchange window.
Catch up on all the latest Giants trade news below.
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MORE TRADE NEWS …
STATE OF PLAY: Every AFL club’s trade targets and departing stars, and the picks they have to play with
TIM TARANTO AND JACOB HOPPER
Both Taranto and Hopper are set to join Richmond on seven-year deals in what looms as a huge double coup for the Tigers.
Taranto was also weighing up interest from Collingwood, while Hopper snubbed the Cats as Richmond is now set to be bolstered by two key additions to its midfield.
McCartney said such landmark deals are the “nature of player movement now” where it’ll help the Tigers shape the structure of their salary cap.
“It’s an interesting one to have that quality both end up choosing the one club. Tim is a bit different to Jacob, because Jacob is in contract,” McCartney said on AFL Trade Radio.
“Richmond bowed out that first week of finals and they’ve identified a need in their midfield, obviously there’s two quality players there. (We’re) In chats with (Tigers head of footy) Blair Hartley and the Richmond guys, they understand the quality of these players and that it’s going to take a bit of work with one still in contract. We’ll keep working through that though.
“To see two go the one club certainly is rare.”
TANNER BRUHN
The looming departure of Bruhn to Geelong is arguably a bigger blow to the Giants given it comes just two years into the youngster’s career.
Bruhn played 17 games for GWS this season and showed promising signs with increased midfield opportunities, but the ex-Geelong Falcon is now keen to head back to Victoria.
McCartney described it as a “disappointing” outcome confirmed he’s held talks over the league extending the standard length of rookie contracts beyond two seasons.
“It is disappointing, it’s a reality, we just have to work with it now. It looks like it’s leaning that way with Geelong and we’ll sit down with Andrew Mackie and thrash out what we can get done there,” he said.
“Two years, that is really disappointing. No doubt there has been conversations had for a while and the AFLPA is involved, but our conversations with the AFLPA are around that fact. Those first-year draftees, the two-year standard contract needs to be longer, that’s for sure.
“What we’re getting also is there’s an explosion in player salaries third year when they become open market. You look at ourselves and Gold Coast and maybe some other clubs who’ve had multiple early picks, what happens is you do have to pay a premium in that third year to retain the player.
“That’s fine when the players are performing and you’re paying for production, but players develop at different rates.
“The challenge is you’re in a position where generally you’re having to pay top dollar just to retain the players. Ultimately that puts pressure on your salary cap as well.”
BOBBY HILL
Hill has requested a trade as Collingwood a year after the small forward’s failed move to Essendon.
It comes amid an interrupted year for the 22-year old including a testicular cancer diagnosis that sidelined him for the second half of the AFL season.
But McCartney confirmed that Hill’s health is “really good” and that he would indeed make the move to the Magpies next month.
“Most importantly, he’s in a really good space. His health and wellbeing is the priority and it has been a challenging year for him,” he said.
“I’ve been talking to (Collingwood footy boss) Graham Wright for a week and a half, that will something we’ll be able to facilitate and that will be something that would be done pretty early in the trade period. Bobby will make his way to Collingwood.”
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