IF GREATER Western Sydney carries one burden for having accumulated an unprecedented stockpile of elite young players, it's that it enters each new year with a host of out-of-contract stars.
And if the Giants' 2015 out-of-contract group was the most glittering the club has had to re-sign – it included Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar, Toby Greene, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson and Will Hoskin-Elliott – 2017's is almost as star-studded.
Star midfielder Shiel and classy small forward Smith are set to come out of contract again at the end of next season, as is key forward Jonathon Patton, who last re-signed in August 2014, a year before he was due to come out of contract in 2015.
Star quality: Dylan Shiel is one of five key Giants coming out of contract in 2017. Picture: AFL Photos
The 2017 uncontracted group also includes emerging midfielder Josh Kelly, the 2013 No.2 draft pick who finished fourth in the Giants' best and fairest last season, and fellow recent first-round selections Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy and Harrison Himmelberg.
As we write this, we can almost hear 1990s Demtel spruiker Tim Shaw excitedly gasping: 'But wait, there's more.'
And there is. Chiefly, attacking backman Williams and emerging key defender Tomlinson, who are anything but the free set of steak knives Shaw used to dangle in an attempt to close sales. Defenders Adam Kennedy and Matt Buntine are handy players too.
Shiel and Kelly shape as the Giants' priority re-signings, followed closely by Patton, Smith and Hopper.
All of the ‘fantastic five’ would be in huge demand if they put their hats in the trade ring at the end of next season. But it's understood GWS has had preliminary discussions with these players' managers and is comfortable with where things sit.
Patton and Tomlinson have both been linked to clubs in their home state Victoria during recent trade periods – Patton most strongly with Essendon and Tomlinson with Carlton – but the Giants are confident of retaining both. Patton, in particular, is believed to love living in Sydney.
It would not surprise if some of the key group re-signed before the start of next season, with Kelly and Patton the most likely to recommit early.
GWS is entitled to be confident as it eyes its out-of-contract list given its recent success with player retention.
In 2015, the only uncontracted player the Giants tried to keep and lost was Treloar, and their initial offer – understood to have been about $450,000 a season over two years – suggested they had higher priorities.
The Giants had hoped to keep Caleb Marchbank at the end of this season, viewing the key defender as a likely key plank of their backline over the next decade, while midfielder Jack Steele was also felt to be in their best 22.
By and large, however, GWS has got the signatures it's wanted. Even over its early lean seasons in the competition.
Now that the Giants look set for an extended run near the top of the ladder at the very least, that task should only get easier.
Giants out of contract at the end of 2017
Dylan Shiel, 23
Jonathon Patton, 23
Devon Smith, 23
Josh Kelly, 21
Jacob Hopper, 19
Zac Williams, 22
Adam Tomlinson, 23
Matt Kennedy, 19
Harrison Himmelberg, 20
Matt Buntine, 23
Adam Kennedy, 24
Jeremy Finlayson, 20
Steve Johnson, 33
Dawson Simpson, 27
Rookies
Sam Reid, 27
Daniel Lloyd, 24
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