AFL.com.au’s Riley Beveridge believes Geelong and Sydney are going to be two of the more active teams come this year’s trade period.
Both the Cats and the Swans have suffered noticeable drop-offs since facing each other in last year’s Grand Final, each currently sitting outside the top eight as they battle to stay alive in the finals race.
With the two clubs having experienced plenty of recent success with their current lists, Beveridge is expecting them both to retool around their core playing group in the off-season.
“They’ll both have big summers in terms of what they do with their list,” he told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“We know Geelong is right in the mix for Tom De Koning, we know the Swans are casting the net far and wide for a key position player at either end of the field.
“I think they’re both going to be right in the hunt and two of the more aggressive teams come the trade period.”
Considering Sydney’s needs, Beveridge is expecting GWS’ Harry Himmelberg to sit high on their list of targets.
“They’ll be in the mix for Harry Himmelberg,” he said.
“He gives you an option and a foil for Logan McDonald if you think Logan McDonald’s your next key forward for the next 10 years.”
For the reigning premiers, Beveridge believes a midfield addition will be a high priority.
“I look at Geelong’s midfield, particularly over the last month when Cam Guthrie and Patrick Dangerfield haven’t played, and the onus has been on guys like Brad Close who’ve gone in there a lot and guys like Zac Guthrie,” he said.
“Do they need another genuine midfielder, another genuine 25-26 year old midfielder as well as a Tom De Koning at season’s end.”
Geelong’s engine room doesn’t look to be the only area of focus, with SEN’s Sam Edmund suggesting that their backline could be in line for a shake-up.
“Geelong down back is interesting as well, since Esava Ratugolea has come back in, he’s obviously gone back to that newfound position in defence,” he said.
“They’ve got (Ratugolea), (Jack) Henry, (Sam) De Koning, (Jake) Kolodjashnij, (Tom) Stewart, who can play small admittedly, but they’re big down back aren’t they.
“(Ratugolea is) another player who hasn’t signed at Geelong, will want to play every week, wanted to be traded at the end of last season.
“It’s a very interesting situation with Geelong down back and how they set up.”
The Cats and Swans faced off in a scrappy Grand Final replay on Friday night, with the resulting draw giving neither side much opportunity to close the gap to the top eight.