AFL: Mick McGuane reveals trades and list moves he would make if he was at Sydney Swans and GWS Giants

The Swans are headed towards another finals campaign but the Giants will miss out. But Mick McGuane believes both clubs have list holes to fill.

Could Brodie Grundy be Giants-bound? Picture: Getty Images

Silly season is upon us.

Translation: player movement is heating up, with even high-profile pair Lance Franklin and Brodie Grundy caught in the crossfire.

Firstly to Collingwood’s dual All-Australian Grundy, who may be a trade target for Greater Western Sydney, which has dearly missed ruckman Shane Mumford.

Mumford retired last year and none of Braydon Preuss, Matt Flynn or Kieren Briggs has asserted himself as the Giants’ long-term answer.

GWS typically isn’t in the market for high-priced recruits but this year might be an exception, with Bobby Hill, Tim Taranto, Tanner Bruhn and Jacob Hopper potentially on the move.

It still seems unlikely the Giants would let that much midfield depth go in one off-season but the Pies are showing interest in at least three of those guys.

Tim Taranto has a big decision to make on his future. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood handed Grundy’s ruck understudy Darcy Cameron a three-year deal, so it clearly has faith in him.

Cameron comes a lot cheaper than Grundy, who still has five years to run on his reported $1 million-a-year contract.

Is it worth losing that quality quartet for the Giants to bring in Grundy as a significant ruck upgrade? No, at least if they can’t bring in other players or quality draft picks on top.

Their frontline defence remains pedestrian, and Brent Daniels’ injury absence this season exacerbated the problem.

Would Collingwood be willing to include, say, Beau McCreery in a Grundy deal? McCreery is exactly the type of player GWS needs.

Look at the model for premiership contenders Melbourne and Fremantle.

Beau McCreery is the type of pressure forward the Giants need. Picture: Michael Klein

Kozzy Pickett, Charlie Spargo and Alex Neal-Bullen are vital to the Demons’ success, as are Sam Switkowski, Lachie Schultz and Michael Walters for the Dockers.

Someone else I’d inquire about if I was Giants list boss Jason McCartney is Geelong forward-ruck Esava Ratugolea, particularly if Hopper wants to get to the Cattery.

The impasse in contract negotiations between the Swans and Franklin is a fascinating situation.

Franklin deserves good money and knows his worth but he’s not short of a dollar and the time has come to sacrifice.

One thing ‘Buddy’ hasn’t achieved in Sydney is a flag to go with his two in brown and gold, and the Swans have other holes to plug to change that.

I don’t think Dustin Martin is on his way to play for John Longmire – I believe what Tom Harley and co. are saying publicly – but I have concerns for Sydney’s key defensive stocks.

Fremantle’s Griffin Logue would be a nice get for the Swans. Picture: Getty Images

The Swans’ recruitment of Paddy McCartin, on top of transforming his brother Tom into a very good backman, has shored up that end of the ground, especially with Dane Rampe still going around.

But we know about the older McCartin’s concussion history and he might be only one head knock away from his career being over.

Lewis Melican hasn’t worked out in that role previously and untried 191cm kid Will Gould is the only other option I can see.

Sydney’s recruiting staff may already have picked up the phone to speak to Griffin Logue’s agent, but if they haven’t, they definitely should.

The Dockers swingman fits into the Swans’ age demographics and is already a good player with the potential to be better.

It’s going to be a big few months ahead.