CARLTON has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to lure Giant Devon Smith home to Victoria, as the Blues aggressively plot to bolster their midfield depth.
Smith comes out of contract at the end of this season and his uncertain future at Greater Western Sydney appears even more clouded following the recent re-signings of Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield and Jacob Hopper.
Giant coup: Kelly stays with GWS
It's believed the former Geelong Falcon wants more time in the midfield after playing largely as a forward in his six seasons with the Giants.
Smith's prospects of an increased on-ball role at GWS appear slim given the Giants' enviable midfield depth, but that wouldn't be a problem if he moved to Carlton.
Blues CEO Steven Trigg last month signalled the club's determination to bolster its midfield rotations and reduce the heavy reliance on star on-ballers Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps.
Carlton is pursuing Smith with a midfield role in mind, while its other on-ball targets are understood to include Brisbane Lions free agent Tom Rockliff and second-year Giant Matthew Kennedy.
Smith has been linked with Geelong for much of this season, but it's understood the Cats have identified Bulldog Jake Stringer and favourite-son-turned-Sun Gary Ablett as their highest trade priorities this year.
That leaves Carlton in the box seat to land Smith if he decides to leave the Giants. GWS has had an offer on the table for the 24-year-old for some time, but he appears increasingly likely to reject it.
Securing a trade for Smith would likely require some manoeuvring by the Blues.
Industry sources suggest 2011's No.14 draft pick is worth between a late first-round and second-round pick, with one list manager setting the range from pick 18-30.
The Blues won't put their first-round pick, No.3 overall, on the table, while they traded their second-round pick to Geelong last year so, at this stage, won't pick again until No.38.
If Gibbs again requests a trade to Adelaide – and Carlton agrees to deal him second time around – the Blues could secure a suitable pick for Smith from the Crows.
Smith is expected to attract a salary of about $550,000 a season.
He has missed the Giants' opening two finals with a knee injury – he has missed 18 games with knee problems over the past two seasons – but is in the mix to return for Saturday's preliminary final against Richmond at the MCG.
Rockliff is also being pursued by Port Adelaide, however, one-time suitor Geelong is understood to have pulled out of the race.
The former Lions captain is not expected to make a decision on his future in the near future, having recently celebrated the birth of his first child and undergone shoulder surgery this week.
Former Giants academy member Kennedy is out of contract and, with GWS' recent re-signings, is expected to talk with rival clubs that can offer him more senior opportunities.
Selected at No.13 in the 2015 draft, Kennedy has played 19 games in his two seasons with the Giants.
