GWS Giants to demand Carlton’s No.1 pick for Dylan Shiel but Blues to offer future first-rounder

CARLTON will be asked to hand over its prized No.1 pick for Dylan Shiel under a bold strategy where Greater Western Sydney would help the Blues also land Mitch McGovern.

CARLTON will reject Greater Western Sydney’s request for the No.1 draft pick should slick Giants midfielder Dylan Shiel ask to be traded to the Blues.

Shiel is expected to decide his new home as early as Monday, with Carlton and Hawthorn believed to be ahead of St Kilda and Essendon in the race for his signature.

If the gun ball-winner picks the Blues, the Giants will to ask Carlton for pick No.1 and a second-rounder in return for Shiel and potentially pick No.13.

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Pick No.13 would allow Carlton to on-trade it to Adelaide for high-flying forward Mitch McGovern, in a massive one-two hit for Blues coach Brendon Bolton.

But The Herald Sun understands the Blues are fiercely determined to keep the No.1 pick and clearly prefer to give up their future first-round selection (for next year’s draft) instead.

At the centre of the looming standoff is Geelong Falcons midfield jet Sam Walsh, who was dubbed a future AFL captain and is the clear favourite to go No.1 in next month’s draft.

Dylan Shiel in action for the Giants.

Mitch McGovern marks. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Blues are desperate to land Walsh and are aware Shiel, who turns 26 before next season, probably only has another five or six seasons left in him.

Walsh is widely expected to step straight into an AFL midfield from Round 1 next season.

Shiel is contracted to the Giants next year but is set to return home to Melbourne.

Carlton is seen to be in the strongest position to land Shiel, who grew up barracking for the Blues and idolised Chris Judd, because the wooden-spooner has the trade cache and the salary cap space to complete a deal.

The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday Carlton powerbrokers flew Shiel to Noosa in a private jet to meet with him.

The AFL Commission has also granted Carlton priority access to two state-league players, which can be on-traded for more picks.

Sam Walsh in action for Vic Country.

Under a different scenario, the Blues could target 190cm midfielder Will Setterfield and Shiel from the Giants in a swap for the No.1 pick.

Carlton is big fans of the GWS midfielder and bid its No.5 pick in the 2016 draft on Setterfield, who tore his ACL in the pre-season, which was matched by the Giants.

It remains unclear how Hawthorn, which enters the draft at No.14, would strike a deal for Shiel.

GWS coach Leon Cameron interviewed Walsh at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday and was impressed.

“Leon Cameron was awesome and they seem like a really well set-up club and very well organised with everything,” Walsh told The Herald Sun.

The Walsh–Shiel dilemma looms as Carlton list chief Stephen Silvagni’s toughest deal yet as the club feels pressure to rise sharply next season.

The No.1 pick has not been traded since the Hawks snared the prized choice from Fremantle in exchange for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin in 2001.

In what has been crowned the greatest ever trade move, the Hawks landed Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, setting up their four-time premiership dynasty.

Sam Walsh competes at the AFL Draft Combine.

Blues’ coach Brendon Bolton must deliver more wins next year and Shiel, 25, and key forward McGovern, 23, would provide an immediate lift.

However, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield this year said the smooth-moving 184cm Walsh was a special talent.

“I think he’s the new Joel Selwood,” Dangerfield said after Walsh trained at the Cats over summer.

Walsh had an incredible year, winning the Larke Medal as the best-performed player at the national championships, as well as All-Australian captain and Vic Country MVP.

Falcons’ regional manager Michael Turner said Walsh would play AFL from Round 1 next season and had shown similar traits to superstar Josh Kelly.

“He is the best-prepared player I have ever seen,” Turner said.

“He could play on a wing straight away.

“If Carlton trade-off, you could understand why, but they’re going to lose a potential AFL club captain and someone who could play over 200 games and be an elite player.

“He’s a no-risk player.

“He’s got a fantastic attitude, he gets the ball, he plays inside and out, he’s a great decision-maker and a beautiful user of the ball.”

Originally published as GWS Giants to demand Carlton’s No.1 pick for Dylan Shiel but Blues to offer future first-rounder