The GIANTS have secured four picks inside the top 25 of the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, as well as a future first-round pick, following the conclusion of the NAB AFL Trade Period.

The club now holds picks 9, 11, 19, 25, 52 and 89 in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft as well as future first, second and fourth-round picks for 2019. 

GIANTS List Manager Jason McCartney said the club was pleased to be able to collect multiple high picks to strengthen the future of the club’s list.

“Overall we’re really excited to secure an extremely strong draft hand for both this year and next,” McCartney said.

“It was a unique Trade Period for our club but a necessary one to set up our list for long-term success.

“We’ll head to next month’s draft with the ability to add more quality to an already outstanding list and put us in a position to once again contend for a Premiership in 2019 and beyond.” 

The first trade of the day saw ruckman Rory Lobb become a Docker as the GIANTS moved up the draft order from pick 14 to pick 11 and add pick 19. The GIANTS sent picks 14, 43 and 47 west to Fremantle. 

McCartney said: “Rory’s been a valuable member of the GIANTS’ group over the past five years but we understand his desire to return to Western Australia. 

“With the upgrade to pick 11 in addition to pick 19, we strengthen our hand at the upcoming Draft to bring in some quality talent to complement our list. This is a strong result for our club.” 

The Shiel trade was the final one to be completed within the final hour of the NAB AFL Trade Period with the GIANTS receiving two first-round picks from Essendon in exchange for the midfielder and a future second-round pick (tied to the GIANTS’ 2019 ladder position). 

With the 25-year-old entering Free Agency at the end of next season, it was deemed a mutually beneficial decision for Shiel to move at this time. 

“While we’d clearly prefer to keep all of our players, circumstance dictates otherwise which is why we’ve worked through this trade and secured an outstanding outcome for the GIANTS,” said McCartney.

“We were clear from the outset on what would constitute a suitable trade and we are confident that has been achieved for the club.

“We thank Dylan for his contribution to the club and the way he has helped to build the GIANTS since arriving as a 17-year-old.”

Earlier in the Trade Period, midfielder Will Setterfield and pick 71 were sent to the Blues with the GIANTS adding a future second-round pick and pick 43 (on-traded to Fremantle). 

“Will requested to explore his options and receiving a future second-round pick will help us bring in more young talent to continue to build our list for long-term success,” McCartney said.

The GIANTS also reached an agreement with Hawthorn that saw Tom Scully become a Hawk in exchange for a future fourth-round selection (tied to the Gold Coast Suns’ finishing position).

“It was a complex trade given the uncertainty around Tom’s ankle,” said McCartney.  

“Tom’s been a valuable member of the GIANTS’ playing list both on and off the field since joining the club ahead of the 2012 season.

“We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavours.”

The GIANTS thank Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Rory Lobb and Will Setterfield for their contribution to our club.

“We wish them all the best. They have all been part of building this club and as such, we will always consider them GIANTS,” McCartney said. 

The GIANTS will take the following picks to the 2018 NAB AFL Draft: 9, 11, 19, 25, 52, 89. 

The GIANTS will also add a first-round pick (tied to Essendon’s 2019 ladder position), second-round pick (tied to Carlton) and fourth-round pick (tied to the Gold Coast) to their 2019 Draft hand, while Essendon holds the GIANTS’ future second-round pick. 

Draft picks can be traded between clubs up until November 16 with picks then also able to be traded on the night of the Draft on November 22 (first round) and November 23 (round two onwards).