GWS might be forced to offload one of their stars in the upcoming trade period as their salary cap tightens.
Superstar midfielder Josh Kelly is among the names generating speculation given his mega contract, with Saints and Dockers coach Ross Lyon stating the Giants 'โhave to make some really hard decisionsโ on their list.
Kelly comes out of contract at the end of 2021, with GWS having the option to trigger an extension of his reported $1 million-a-season deal.
It would see him stay with the Giants for a further eight year, while if the clause isn't triggered, Kelly would be a free agent at the end of 2021.
Star duo Jeremy Cameron and Zac Williams have both been linked to several rival clubs, with the key duo out-of-contract at the end of the season.
Earlier this week coach Leon Cameron said the Giants were โconfident he (Williams) is going to be a Giant for lifeโ after โreally good dialogueโ between the club and Williamsโ team.
He also indicated that his club could keep both Williams and Cameron.
โHistory says โฆ their top five players, we will keep them, a free agency list. Look after the top and then just get role players in,โ Lyon told Channel 9โsย Footy Classified. โBut Kelly sits in the star category, doesnโt he?
โThey have to make some really hard decisions. Both Williams and Kelly, you wouldnโt want to lose either of them. Iโm not sure how theyโd make the decision.โ
Kelly's season has been inconsistent compared to previous years, which goes along with how GWS have performed in 2020.
The star Giant has averaged 22.2 disposals and 3.8 clearances per game, but will miss his side's clash with Carlton on Thursday after suffering a heavy concussion after colliding into teammate Shane Mumford's knee last week.
โHeโs clearly playing more of an outside role on the wing, half forward, more than he previously has been when he was a Brownlow Medal contender as a midfielder,โย Footy Classifiedย co-host Sam McClure said on Channel 9.
โHeโs an interesting part of their make-up for the list going forward.
โTheyโre so far over the salary cap, more than any other team. If Zac Williams doesnโt go and they keep him, theyโre going to have to lose several โ and oneโs going to have to be a big fish.โ
North Melbourne was very keen on signing Kelly back in 2017 before he eventually recommitted to the Giants. Kelly's dad played 61 games for North in the early 1980s.
โThere was talk about him going to his fatherโs club, North Melbourne,โ Eddie McGuire said.
โThey have more money than they can pay anyone at the moment, North, they have a great pick, Pick No. 2, in this draft, which is a pretty good draft.
โWould that be where they go to try and save some salary cap and get a young player in that doesnโt cost much whoโs going to be a future star?โ
