TOM SCULLY'S potential move to Hawthorn during this year's NAB AFL Trade Period is far from a done deal, with Greater Western Sydney list manager Jason McCartney revealing his player is still weighing up his future.
Last week, Scully's name was added to a talented list of Giants set to leave the club this year, along with Dylan Shiel (Essendon), Rory Lobb (Fremantle) and Will Setterfield, who has already been traded to Carlton.
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All four GWS players were or are currently under contract with the club for at least the 2019 season, but the club's salary cap issues have forced it to explore options to help ease the cap pressure.
Scully is tied to the Giants until at least the end of the 2021 season after signing a four-season contract extension two years ago.
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Speaking at the PWC Connors Sports Breakfast on Monday morning, McCartney said he's held discussions with the Hawks about Scully, but the elite runner is no certainty to leave the Giants.
"He's a bit undecided at the moment," he said.
"There may be an opportunity (for Scully) to come back to Melbourne, and we've had some chats with the Hawthorn footy club around that, but there's a fair bit to play out.
"He is very happy if he stays and serves (out) his contract with the Giants."
There has been some talk that because of their need to shed salary cap space at any cost, the Giants could be forced to accept as little as a third-round draft selection in exchange for Scully.
McCartney wouldn't go into specifics surrounding any deal involving the 27-year-old, who played just one game this year because of a serious ankle injury, but said he'll be in contact with Scully's management again on Monday.
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"There's a bit of a conversation to go on between myself and Mark Kleiman, Tom's manager, and we'll work through that," he said.
"We'll also work through what the opportunities will look like of Tom fulfilling his contract with us, which he would be happy to do."
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McCartney was matter of fact when asked if GWS would pay some of Scully's salary next year even if he was playing at another club.
"No that won't happen, that won't happen," he said.
The amount of movement at the Giants this year is not only geared around easing salary cap pressures in 2019, but with preparing for a host of stars set to come out of contract at the end of next season.
Gun midfielder Josh Kelly heads that list, that also contains the likes of fellow vice-captain Stephen Coniglio, Nick Haynes, Adam Tomlinson and talented youngsters Jacob Hopper and Harry Himmelberg, who will all be in the market for new deals next year.
All Australian and club champion Lachie Whitfield is out of contract at the end of 2020, along with Zac Williams and Tim Taranto.
"Our strategy has always been around the investment in our players, we're a retention club not an acquisition club," McCartney said.
"So that's our priority and part of our planning.
"We're really confident with everything that’s going on, that we've got a really strong list, a great young group, and we're going to be in good shape next year to contend for a premiership."
McCartney also ruled out any potential trade of injured key forward Jonathon Patton this year.
Patton, who is contracted to the Giants until the end of 2020, is currently working his way back from his third knee reconstruction after tearing the ACL in his left knee at training in July.
