KEVIN Sheedy has implored the AFL's 17 other clubs to show some courage in their bids to relieve Greater Western Sydney of this year's No.1 draft pick if, as expected, the Giants finish the season with the wooden spoon.
The Giants have already signalled the first selection in the NAB AFL Draft, which most expect to be young Vic Metro key forward Tom Boyd, will be on the trade table this year as they attempt to add some experience to their young list.
Sheedy has been extremely critical of their competitors, particularly Victorian clubs, for refusing to play ball when it came to GWS' trading of young guns Jaeger O'Meara and Jack Martin, both of whom ended up at Gold Coast.
The veteran coach was asked on Wednesday if he believed clubs would show more fortitude this time around in an effort to snare the 199cm, 102kg Boyd at the end of the year.
"I would think they would be. They should be," Sheedy told reporters.
"The proof in the pudding is they walked out on two superstars.
"I think that O'Meara and Martin are going to be in the (Chris) Judd and (Gary) Ablett mould.
"To walk away from them at 17-and-a-half was just foolish."
Carlton pair Matthew Kreuzer and Chris Yarran, Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers and Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas are the types of players mooted as potential trade baits for that first pick.
Sheedy would only say "a top-class player" would be a fair trade.
The four-time premiership coach knows some of his younger players need some experience around them if they are to blossom into truly elite AFL talent.
Once again Buddy Franklin's name was mentioned, with expectations rising that the key forward will accept an enormous offer to move to Sydney.
Sheedy feels the Giants need to be just as aggressive with the Hawthorn superstar as cross-town rivals the Swans were with Kurt Tippett, if Franklin declares his intention to leave.
"We need players that will have at least five years left in them," Sheedy said.
"We've just worked through two years with (retired veterans) Chad (Cornes), James McDonald and Lukey Power.
"Most of these (young GWS players) will have 20-30 games up at the end of the first two years. Now it's time to blend in and help out guys like Callan Ward and Tom Scully and Phil Davis.
"As soon as the Swans were alerted that a full forward from Adelaide was going to leave, they didn't muck around did they?
"They just went straight after him. They said 'Don't worry about the Gold Coast, we're going to get you'.
"Once a player alerts a club they're going to leave, everybody's into it and can go for it."
Sheedy refused to concede the Giants would have the rights to the first draft pick at the end of the year.
The winless Giants are two wins behind 17th placed Melbourne with nine games remaining heading into Saturday's trip to Canberra to face the Western Bulldogs, who are 16th.
"We're trying to avoid number one," Sheedy said.
"We still have chances. There's a few more games there to be won.
"We might win three. You just don't know."
