OUT-OF-CONTRACT Giants midfielder Matthew Kennedy has requested a trade to Carlton.
AFL.com.au reported last week Kennedy was close to nominating the Blues as his preferred new home, and the 20-year-old is believed to have told Greater Western Sydney on Tuesday he wants a trade to Ikon Park.
Carlton will be hoping Kennedy is the first of several opposition players to seek a move there. The Blues are frontrunners in the race for Kennedy's GWS teammate Devon Smith, locked in a battle with Port Adelaide for Brisbane Lions free agent Tom Rockliff and one of several Victorian clubs circling contracted Gold Coast rebounder Adam Saad.
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The Blues were also recently linked to veteran Giants midfielder Ryan Griffen, but their football manager, Andrew McKay, ruled out any trade on Monday, saying the 31-year-old did not fit their list profile.
Kennedy played 16 senior games for GWS in 2017 but was overlooked for its three finals.
The former GWS academy player will undoubtedly enjoy greater opportunities at Carlton given the Giants boast one of the strongest midfields in the competition.
If Kennedy joins the Blues he will become the 10th ex-Giant to join the club.
Mark Whiley, Kristian Jaksch and Liam Sumner have since been delisted, but Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Lachine Plowman, Caleb Marchbank, Rhys Palmer and Jarrod Pickett are all still at the club.
GWS last month re-signed on-ballers Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield and Jacob Hopper despite feverish rival interest, especially in Kelly, but had yet to offer Kennedy a new deal.
Other Victorian clubs including Essendon and Hawthorn also pursued Kennedy, but the 188cm midfielder sees a bright future for himself at Ikon Park.
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Blues CEO Steven Trigg has said the club will focus on building midfield depth in this year's trade period and Kennedy will be a welcome addition provided Carlton can broker a trade with the Giants.
GWS took Kennedy with pick No.13 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, but industry sources believe he is now worth a second-round pick.
The Blues traded their second-round selection to Geelong last season as part of the Zach Tuohy deal and their third-round pick, No.38 overall, won't satisfy the Giants.
Carlton could look to do a package deal for Kennedy and Smith, but its prized first pick, No.3, is highly unlikely to be on the table.
But if Bryce Gibbs again requests a trade home to Adelaide – he is expected to do so despite saying last week he expected to remain at Ikon Park in 2018 – the Blues could obtain a pick or picks from the Crows they could then pass on to the Giants.
The Crows' first-round pick is at No.16, while they will also demand two first-round picks from Melbourne if, as expected, Jake Lever seeks a trade to the Demons.
