THE INSATIABLE Victorian interest in Giants midfielder Josh Kelly – including North Melbourne's $9 million, nine-year offer – has again shone the spotlight on the expansion clubs' player retention.

Kelly's Greater Western Sydney teammate Dylan Shiel recommitted this week, but another big name, 2012 No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield, also remains on the recruiting radar.

The pendulum has swung wildly since some prominent people screamed bloody murder as Gold Coast and GWS splashed money to litter their inaugural lists with mature-age stars from rival sides.

Much was written about the Suns' initial list decision failings in 2011, suffering in comparison to the Giants' approach of attracting younger top-liners in entering the competition a year later.

RECRUITS FROM OTHER AFL CLUBS
Gold Coast: Gary Ablett (Geelong), Michael Barlow (Fremantle), Daniel Currie (Sydney, North Melbourne), Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs), Mitch Hallahan (Hawthorn), Pearce Hanley (Brisbane), Jarrod Harbrow (Western Bulldogs), Jarryd Lyons (Adelaide), Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane), Matt Rosa (West Coast), Jarrod Witts (Collingwood)

GWS: Phil Davis (Adelaide), Matt de Boer (Fremantle), Brett Deledio (Richmond), Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs), Steve Johnson (Geelong), Shane Mumford (Geelong, Sydney), Tendai Mzungu (Fremantle), Joel Patfull* (Brisbane), Sam Reid (Western Bulldogs), Tom Scully (Melbourne), Heath Shaw (Collingwood), Dawson Simpson (Geelong), Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs)
*Patfull has retired, but is on the rookie list 

The Sydneysiders' 102-point demolition of Rodney Eade's men in round two was their fifth straight victory over them, by an average margin of 56.4 points.

But the developing story is the increasing number of footballers performing elsewhere after starting their AFL career with one of the expansion clubs.

Some left by choice, such as Adam Treloar, Dion Prestia and Charlie Dixon, while others like Maverick Weller, Henry Schade and Nathan Krakouer were cut loose.

Gold Coast reject Schade and 2011 GWS top-five pick Will Hoskin-Elliott starred last week in Collingwood's upset win in Sydney, alongside ex-Giants Treloar and Taylor Adams.

Carlton has also taken a well-publicised interest in the boys from Sydney Olympic Park, with former GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni now filling the same role with the Blues.

Eight ex-Giants, including Lachie Plowman, Caleb Marchbank and Jarrod Pickett, and one-time Suns big man Daniel Gorringe feature at Ikon Park.

EX-GWS AND GOLD COAST PLAYERS ON AFL LISTS
Adelaide: Curtly Hampton (GWS)
Brisbane Lions: Jake Barrett (GWS)
Carlton: Kristian Jaksch, Jed Lamb, Caleb Marchbank, Rhys Palmer, Andrew Phillips, Jarrod Pickett, Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner (GWS), Daniel Gorringe (Gold Coast)
Collingwood: Taylor Adams, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Adam Treloar (GWS), Henry Schade (Gold Coast)
Essendon: James Stewart (GWS)
Fremantle: Harley Bennell (Gold Coast), Cam McCarthy (GWS)
Geelong: Zac Smith (Gold Coast)
Hawthorn: Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast), Jonathan O’Rourke (GWS)
Melbourne: Tomas Bugg, Sam Frost, Pat McKenna, Dom Tyson (GWS)
North Melbourne: Jed Anderson, Paul Ahern (GWS)
Port Adelaide: Charlie Dixon, Nathan Krakouer (Gold Coast), Jack Hombsch, Jake Neade (GWS)
Richmond: Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy (Gold Coast), Anthony Miles, Jacob Townsend (GWS),
St Kilda: Josh Bruce, Jack Steele (GWS), Tom Hickey, Maverick Weller (Gold Coast)
Sydney Swans: Shaun Edwards (GWS)
West Coast: Jonathan Giles (GWS)
Western Bulldogs: Tom Boyd (GWS)

Collingwood and Richmond have the equal second-most players from the expansion clubs with four each.

Magpie Josh Thomas, a Queensland junior representative, also knocked back a Gold Coast contract offer in a further connection.

Port Adelaide's Jake Neade and North Melbourne's Jed Anderson, who first joined Hawthorn, were Northern Territory zone selections for GWS, but were swapped for draft picks.

So much talent has departed the AFL's two newest clubs to lists elsewhere that AFL.com.au was comfortably able to pick an imaginary line-up in position, dubbed the 'Expansion Escapees'.

There is genuine quality on every line, with particular strength in the midfield and key forward slots, although some licence was taken to create the final 22.

The one criterion was the players were on an AFL list this season.

The task was not so easy the other way for the 'Gold Giants', despite many first-class footballers making their way to the Suns and Giants.

Phil Davis is the only true key defender in the bunch – with Joel Patfull retired, but still on the GWS rookie list – leaving specialist ruckman Jarrod Witts in the unfamiliar centre-half back post.

Sam Reid and Jarrad Grant are also the unlikely tall targets in attack.

But the team is blessed with ruck depth, headed by Shane Mumford, and boasts an enormous midfield rotation that could field numerous competitive combinations.

Let's suppose the match is played at the Giants' former Blacktown base, just to keep former mayor Alan Pendleton happy. Who wins?

EXPANSION ESCAPEES BEST 22
B: Lachie Plowman, Henry Schade, Caleb Marchbank
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Jack Hombsch, Maverick Weller
C: Josh Caddy, Dom Tyson, Taylor Adams
HF: Harley Bennell, Charlie Dixon, Jaeger O'Meara
F: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Josh Bruce, Tom Boyd
Foll: Tom Hickey, Adam Treloar, Dion Prestia
Inter: Cam McCarthy, Zac Smith, Jack Steele, Jake Neade 

GOLD GIANTS BEST 22
B: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Matt Rosa
HB: Pearce Hanley, Jarrod Witts, Jarrod Harbrow
C: Ryan Griffen, Tom Scully, Brett Deledio
HF: Steve Johnson, Sam Reid, Michael Barlow
F: Jarryd Lyons, Jarrad Grant, Michael Rischitelli
Foll: Shane Mumford, Gary Ablett, Callan Ward
Inter: Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu, Mitch Hallahan, Dawson Simpson