GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) will hope to quickly cover the losses of senior personnel during trade period when it takes three first round picks into the 2024 AFL Draft. Expected to make four selections overall, the Giants will likely compliment their early haul with yet another Academy product on night two.

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2024 RECORD: 4th, 15-8, 109.1% | Eliminated: Semi Final
2024 PICKS: 15, 16, 21, 37, 56, 73
FUTURE PICKS: GWS R1, GWS R2, ADE R2
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Cooper Bell, Josaia Delana, Logan Smith (all Academy)

FIRST PICK:
Pick 15

GWS is in prime position to cash in on the class of this year’s draft, either making three first round selections or packaging up to move towards the top 10. The Giants typically target an archetype of versatile, powerful and athletic running types capable of fulfilling roles all around the ground.

Their losses via trades and free agency – mainly down back – make for a clear area of discrepancy within the squad. There is potential to jump at a club like St Kilda, who is said to be considering splitting pick eight to hedge their bets in the teens, so a wealth of opportunities await the orange team.

With that in mind, the running game of Tobie Travaglia will appeal. The Bendigo Pioneers utility is best suited to streaming off half-back, but has also cut his teeth on the wing and has scope to be a midfielder. Fellow leftie Xavier Lindsay may also be in the range, likely to start out as a defender or wingman.

Should the Giants target the front half of the field, small forward Joe Berry is within reach but will have plenty of other suitors. Perhaps, then Taj Hotton is the man for the orange team. He looked a top 10 talent before tearing his ACL early in the year, proving high-impact as a dynamic midfielder-forward.

Key position players may also be on the horizon if the likes of Travaglia and Berry are off the board. It means Jobe Shanahan and Jack Whitlock are ripe for picking, depending on what happens up the order. There may also be talls available with the Giants’ third pick (currently 21), though.

REMAINING CROP:

With two consecutive selections, the world is GWS’ oyster. In that kind of range, including with pick 21, the variety of options is endless and there is room for creativity in the Giants’ chosen combination. They can pick up scraps out of the top 15 before dipping into the depth of the draft’s next block.

If still in need of key position coverage, Jonty Faull is an option. He’d fit in well alongside fellow GWV Rebels graduate, Aaron Cadman up forward. Alternatively, the raw and versatile Matt Whitlock is one of the draft’s best swingmen and could really excel at the top level with his athletic acumen.

In terms of smalls, defender Harrison Oliver will be a popular choice in the 20s with his sharp ball use. The Giants have been known to back their judgment on bolters, so the likes of forwards Jasper Alger and Oliver Hannaford are also in contention, while the explosive Tom Gross could be a value pick.

Should the Giants manufacture a conventional draft with their current hand, they’d take each of their first three selections before anticipating having the rest absorbed by a bid for Academy prospect Logan Smith. The towering 204cm ruck is expected to attract interest in that range, perhaps earlier.

GWS has two more Academy products to consider in small midfielder-forward Josaia Delana and tall utility Cooper Bell. Both will likely be available to rookie should the club see fit. The Giants have already committed to re-listing Josh Fahey, Lachlan Keeffe, and Jacob Wehr via the rookie draft.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Could GWS trade up the order on night one?
– Where will the Logan Smith bid fall?
– Can GWS quickly cover the loss of senior personnel?