PREMIERSHIP favourites Greater Western Sydney appear set for another boost, with first-year pair Tim Taranto and Will Setterfield edging closer to extending their contracts with the club.
The Giants have moved quickly in their bid to re-sign the talented duo, who were the club's first two picks at last year's NAB AFL Draft and don't fall out of contract until the end of next year.
AFL.com.au understands talks are tracking well with both players and the club is confident discussions will lead to Setterfield and Taranto prolonging their stay at the Giants. Two-year extensions would tie them to GWS until the end of 2020.
Their expected commitments would be a blow for Victorian clubs, who will have been monitoring the progress of the Taranto and Setterfield, who both played for the Sandringham Dragons last season.
Taranto has played all but one game this season at senior level for the Giants after being the second overall pick at last year's draft. He was named the round eight NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, and has averaged 16 disposals a game.
His size, strength and athleticism for a young midfielder has taken the eye and he has comfortably held his own in the Giants' line-up.
Setterfield joined the Giants as an academy selection when the Giants matched Carlton's bid for him with pick five at the draft.
He grew up in Albury before moving to Melbourne as a teenager to study and board at Caulfield Grammar. Setterfield's height made him an appealing prospect for clubs searching for tall midfielders at last year's draft, with Essendon suggesting he was in their mix as the No.1 pick.
He has been sidelined since April after suffering an ankle injury at NEAFL level, but had already impressed in the Giants' reserves side with a brilliant game that showed he was not far from senior selection.
The expected re-signings come as the Giants face an uncertain wait on star midfielder Josh Kelly, who is weighing up whether to stick with the club after this season or head back to Victoria, where North Melbourne and St Kilda are leading the chase.
Kelly said on Wednesday he will decide later in the year about where he plays his football in 2018.
The Giants have shed plenty of players in recent years and often used trades to pick up extra draft pick 'points' to pay for up-coming academy selections under the bidding system.
However, the club doesn't appear to have any top-end prospects coming through its academy this year after the AFL realigned its zone and it lost access to tall Jarrod Brander and midfielder Charlie Spargo.
