GREATER Western Sydney entered the trade period screaming out for some established talent and, in some ways, with its credibility on the line following a one-win second season in the competition.
Having stated all year its intention to be "very aggressive", in former coach Kevin Sheedy's words, during the free agency period, GWS had to produce the goods to give its bid for AFL competitiveness a kick start.
It didn't start well, with the Sydney Swans swooping on the man who was supposed to represent the start of GWS' climb towards AFL respectability, Lance Franklin.
Franklin was to be the lynch pin of the Giants' rebuild and the fact he ended up across town was a major body blow.
Undeniably rattled by the move, some pundits viewed it as an embarrassment to have Franklin pulled from under their nose.
But GWS handled it reasonably well, stating it simply wasn't prepared to throw all of its eggs into the Buddy basket and attempt to match the Swans' staggering nine-year offer.
"We have every confidence in our list management strategy, but we cannot compromise it for the sake of one individual," Giants chief executive Dave Matthews said.
"This decision allows us to pursue other options."
Now, it was suddenly beyond pressing they convinced someone to come on board and show they were indeed capable of attracting top-line talent.
And they did it in quick time, announcing just one day after the Franklin snub that the Swans' premiership-winning ruckman Shane Mumford would be donning the orange and charcoal in 2014.
At 27 years of age and with an ability to dominate in the ruck and play up front, Mumford's presence at training and on game day will do wonders for his new young teammates.
The Giants then confirmed they were chasing Heath Shaw, another 27-year-old with a flag to his name.
The club initially felt it was behind some Melbourne-based clubs, particularly Hawthorn and Geelong, but soon enough Shaw announced he too would be heading to Homebush Bay.
Now the Giants were gaining some momentum.
When 21-year-old Jed Lamb revealed his intention to reject the Swans' contract offer and also move across town, which will be finalised in next month's pre-season draft, the club had a full head of steam.
Throw in Geelong's two-time premiership-winning defender Josh Hunt and the Giants should be more than content with their work.
Last season, GWS' list building strategy – particularly in reference to senior players – came under intense scrutiny.
Callan Ward has been a resounding success, while Tom Scully and Luke Power contributed to the cause and Chad Cornes made an impression before his body let him down.
But the jury is still out on Rhys Palmer, Phil Davis and Stephen Gilham, James McDonald and Dean Brogan only made fleeting contributions and Bret Thornton was an abject failure.
The club's work this month, however, represents a significant step in the right direction.
They also persuaded Melbourne to give up pick two in the NAB AFL Draft, in exchange for Dom Tyson and pick nine, in a move described by one GWS source as "an unexpected bonus".
But the experienced players are the key.
Fellow expansion side Gold Coast accelerated well past the Giants in 2013, but these moves mean GWS has the potential to start closing the gap.
"We said we would be aggressive in the trade period and we have," Matthews said.
"We wanted a ruckman and we got a premiership-winning ruckman in Shane Mumford.
"We wanted a quality defender and we secured two premiership defenders in Heath Shaw from Collingwood and Josh Hunt from Geelong.
"We wanted a clever forward and we picked up Jed Lamb from the Swans.
"These additions to our existing young talent sees us shaping up well for a much improved and competitive 2014."
That should also signal the start of that all-important climb towards AFL respectability.
