GWS Giants midfielder Taylor Adams in Hawthorn's sights Jay Clark
From: Herald Sun
July 30, 2013 HAWTHORN will target one of Greater Western Sydney's most promising midfielders, Taylor Adams, to help offset the potential loss of free agent Lance Franklin.
Adams has put off contract talks until season's end and is understood to have attracted varying degrees of interest from every Victorian club.
Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne are believed to be eyeing the 20-year-old, dubbed a future AFL captain after an impressive round of draft interviews two years ago.Melbourne is set to table one of the most enticing offers as it has enormous salary cap space and a top-three draft pick to help satisfy the Giants in any trade deal.
But the Hawks are also known to be big fans of the 179cm midfield-forward and hope to lure the No.13 draft pick to help lead the club's next generation of midfielders.
The strength of Hawthorn's list, combined with the prospect of sustained success, could trump other clubs.
Adams, a hardball specialist from Geelong Falcons, has excelled in his second season at the Giants, where he ranks fourth in clearances this season.
It is believed it would take a top-12 draft pick or an established big man as a minimum to satisfy the Giants in a trade for Adams.
He has averaged 21 possessions and almost four tackles a game this season.
In the event Franklin leaves, Hawthorn will have about $1 million salary cap space to chase Adams, among others.
The Hawks need to find eventual replacements for veteran onballers such as Brad Sewell, 29, Luke Hodge, 29, and Sam Mitchell, 30.
The Hawks would receive pick No.20 as free agency compensation for Franklin, meaning they would have two late first-round picks to include in any trade deal.
Sources close to Adams say he has not made a decision on his future.
The Hawks are busy preparing end-of-season trade plans if Franklin departs to the Giants on a mega-deal.
Richmond is also expected to be a major player for Adams after missing out on Dom Tyson, another inside GWS midfielder, last year.Adams said he was comfortable with the decision that loomed at the end of the season.
"I think I'm over the homesickness at the moment and I'm really enjoying it up here in Sydney and made some really good friendships," Adams said.
"I just have to sit down and think about what's right for me. I'll probably wait until the end of the season.
"There's no rush, I'll just take my time and make the right decision."
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