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RICHMOND stands as good a chance as any club to secure Greater Western Sydney star Adam Treloar should the gifted midfielder decide, as expected, to return to Victoria at season’s end.
Although clubs not directly involved in the chase for Treloar still think Collingwood will be his preferred destination, the Tigers could attempt to usurp the Pies by offering the Giants a better deal at the trade table.
It all depends what interested parties potentially think the hottest prospect in this year's trade period is worth.
Treloar is certainly worth at the very least a first-round pick. And he's likely to be worth much more.
Everyone knows he is a gun, having played 78 games in four seasons.
He has finished ninth, fifth and fourth in the club best and fairest awards in his three completed seasons and has earned five Brownlow Medal votes. He has also maintained his form this season despite ongoing speculation about whether he is staying or going, and should finish in the top five in the Giants’ best and fairest.
He is, in simple terms, a jet.
Some industry sources believe the Giants may demand two first-round draft picks in exchange for the former Dandenong Stingray.
The Magpies would be unlikely to agree to that, particularly given Treloar is out of contract and industry sources suggest the Giants' salary cap is tight.
However if both parties were open to exchanging a first-round pick and later picks the following season, in what shapes as a much deeper and therefore valuable draft, the job might be completed. Because what the Giants want under the new bidding system are points, points and more points to use on Academy prospects Matthew Kennedy and Jacob Hopper this season and Harrison Macreadie next year.
If the Giants finish ninth, they will only have 2504 points to use on Kennedy and Hopper in 2015 with Macreadie to come the following year. This is not enough points because according to industry sources, all three could attract top 10 bids in 2015 and 2016.
And that's where Richmond might become a spoiler in the race for Treloar.
Depending on their desire to get Treloar, the Tigers might be able to put together a package of picks that gives the Giants more points than they would get off their competitors. The opportunity to trade future picks has opened up the possibilities, particularly when those in the race might have designs on gaining Brisbane Lions midfielder James Aish.
That will give all parties something to consider because Treloar is sure to want the Giants fairly compensated.
The new system means that adding a 'steak knives' player to the deal doesn't seem to be much value to GWS.
The Giants can pick up some experience by picking up a delisted free agent or trading a player that has been stuck in the NEAFL. They don't need to panic, having traded reasonably well for experience in recent years.
The Magpies have a history of being hard trade period negotiators, not unlike the Giants, who have managed to get deals done under pressure in the past. But the introduction of the academy points system and future draft trading will see this negotiation process, if Treloar leaves, enter new territory.
And with Richmond in the picture and seemingly happy to entertain a strong deal (and Fairfax reporting that Carlton is also waiting in the wings), the negotiations are likely to be harder than they have ever been.
