RIVAL clubs have identified Aiden Bonar as this year's most attainable GWS trade target as the revolving door of Giants midfielders prepares to spin yet again.
The 2017 first-round draft pick remains stuck in the NEAFL as Victorian clubs begin to enquire about what it would take to lure him home.
With the final two years of his 2021 contract believed to be in the range of $300-400,000 per season, suitors are monitoring where Bonar sits in the Giants' future midfield plans.
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Having released Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully and Will Setterfield to relieve salary cap pressure last year, more headaches are set to arise as the Giants attempt to lock down Stephen Coniglio.
With Josh Kelly's signature freshly-inked, attention will quickly turn to next season with contract years for Lachie Whitfield and Jeremy Cameron (free agents) and Tim Taranto among others.
Power forward Jonathon Patton, contracted until 2020, has also been linked with a move to Victoria.
Should Bonar continue to find himself on the outer, rivals will become increasingly aware that his healthy wage may need to be moved on by the Giants and absorbed elsewhere.
It is a similar situation to 12 months ago when Victorian clubs tracked an injured Setterfield despite a year to run on his contract at the Giants.
The Bombers narrowly missed out to Carlton in pursuit of Setterfield and their need for a young, big-bodied midfielder remains.
Hawthorn is another club in desperate need of a powerfully built onballer, while St Kilda, North Melbourne and Carlton have made no secret of their attempts to land A-Grade talent.
Bonar, who stands at 188cm, has been used mostly as a midfielder but also has the ability to go forward in the mould of Jack Ziebell or Josh Caddy.
The 20-year-old played four matches in his debut AFL season last year, but has been reduced to just five NEAFL games this year as he works through a midfield logjam at the Giants.
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Even with the loss of co-captain Callan Ward to a season-ending ACL injury, Bonar is stuck in a race for matches with fellow first-round picks Jackson Hately and Jye Caldwell.
It could be made even harder from next season as the Giants prepare to select another highly-touted Academy prospect in this year's NAB AFL Draft.
Tom Green, 18, last month represented the AFL Academy at the MCG and has been predicted as a potential first-round draftee.
Bonar was the bolter in his 2017 NAB AFL Draft, overcoming two prior knee reconstructions to be selected at pick 11.
GIANTS' REVOLVING MIDFIELD DOOR
2018: Tom Scully (Hawthorn), Will Setterfield (Carlton), Dylan Shiel (Essendon)
2017: Matthew Kennedy (Carlton), Devon Smith (Essendon)
2016: Paul Ahern (North Melbourne), Will Hoskin-Elliott (Collingwood), Rhys Palmer (Carlton), Jarrod Pickett (Carlton), Jack Steele (St Kilda)
2015: Tom Bugg (Melbourne), Liam Sumner (Carlton), Jacob Townsend (Richmond), Adam Treloar (Collingwood)
2014: Jono O'Rourke (Hawthorn), Mark Whiley (Carlton)
2013: Taylor Adams (Collingwood), Dom Tyson (Melbourne)
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