Clubs are set to come swooping on the Giants list this trade period, with up to four players looking likely to leave the club, reports Sportsday’s Sam McClure.
GWS is currently languishing in 15th having sacked their coach earlier this year after making finals the year before.
The Giants are facing plenty of salary cap pressure once again and reportedly believe they have the depth to cover several exits. McClure has previously reported that Taranto is likely to depart, but has added Jacob Hopper, Tanner Bruhn and Bobby Hill to the list that may be leaving.
Hopper is contracted to the NSW club until 2023, at which point he becomes a free agent. Taranto, who was drafted out of Victoria with Pick 2 in the 2016 draft, has not signed with the Giants beyond 2022.
Meanwhile, Hill requested a trade to a Victorian club last year but a deal was unable to be struck. The 22-year-old is also out of contract at the end of the season, as is fellow young gun Bruhn.
The former first-round pick has played 27 games over two years at the Giants.
“There’s another player exodus (coming), we’ve been here before unfortunately (in 2018 and 2020),” McClure said on Thursday night.
“This year, I’ve already talked about Tim Taranto, I don’t think he’ll be there next year. Jacob Hopper, you can now put him in that same position, I believe (he) will leave GWS with one year left on his deal.
“And Bobby Hill and Tanner Bruhn will both join him out the door.”
The “exodus” is for multiple reasons, with McClure adding Taranto – who won the club’s best and fairest in 2019 - doesn’t want to leave the club.
“This is once again salary cap based. We’ve talked a lot about the Giants and the fact they pay their four highest-paid players the best part of four million dollars (a season)… that’s not as much of an issue if you’re finishing top four, playing prelims, contending for flags (but when you’re a bottom four side) it is going to be an issue,” he continued.
“Tim Taranto is desperate to stay, he doesn’t want to leave, he loves Sydney… the answer to that (why he wants to leave) can only be given by the Giants.
“One reason is about cash, the other one is they are seeing this change in coach, potential changes in assistant coaches and football department, as a chance of a mini reset.
“By trading out Hopper and Taranto… they believe they have the depth to make up for those and they believe that with these two players in their prime, they can cash in on their trade value.”
McClure added: “Hopper is picking between Richmond and Geelong, and is also being courted by Adelaide.”
McClure also revealed the Giants have an interest in Brodie Grundy, but are unwilling to pay the $1 million per season he is owed for the next five years.
“Brodie Grundy is of definite interest to Greater Western Sydney, but not at that million dollar price tag,” he said further.
GWS plays Carlton on Sunday in Round 19 in search of their sixth win of the season.