The Herald-Sun, though, is saying pick 15 for Lids.
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Brett Deledio announces GWS Giants as preferred destination as trade deadline loomsSAM EDMUND AND SAM LANDSBERGER
Herald Sun
October 20, 2016 BRETT Deledio has demanded a trade to Greater Western Sydney, despite an 11th hour contract offer from the Western Bulldogs.
The wantaway Richmond star was on Wednesday night agonising over the two clubs, with Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells declaring the Cats’ bursting salary cap had ruled it out of contention.
Sources close to Deledio said the relationship between he and Richmond had become untenable.
The All-Australian is desperate to put two years of nagging calf and Achilles problems behind him with a fresh start at a new club and was uncertain over his Punt Rd future beyond 2017.
Yet the Tigers will seek a first-round draft pick as compensation for a two-time best-and-fairest winner who has played 243 games in 12 seasons.
The Giants are armed with picks No.2 and 15 and will haggle for another early selection from Carlton for Caleb Marchbank.
The Blues could send Geelong’s future first-round pick to the Giants to seal Marchbank’s arrival, but GWS would still be able to land Deledio with this year’s pick 15.
The Bulldogs came hard for Deledio, completing medical examinations on the 29-year-old on Wednesday.
The premiers had arranged a medical with Deledio a few weeks ago, but pulled out when coach Luke Beveridge went cold on the idea. However, they were keen to add Deledio’s finishing class to a side tailor-made to his abilities.
Deledio was in Sydney on Tuesday for meetings with GWS coach Leon Cameron and head of football Wayne Campbell, a former teammate.
Two months ago he had laughed off talk of a move to the burgeoning Giants.
“I was watching ‘Dimma’ on On The Couch the other night and it come up about GWS and my wife only caught the end of it and she goes, ‘I don’t think I can move to GWS, I don’t know anyone up there, we’re going to have another child, I’m not going to have any support or anything like that’,” Deledio said.
But star Giant Stevie Johnson foreshadowed Deledio’s shock defection on Instagram.
On Sunday Johnson commented on Deledio’s post: “Deledio to Giants, heard it here first!! #talkedhimintoit”.
The boom trade means Giants’ coach Leon Cameron can slot Deledio and Johnson into the team which narrowly fell to the Western Bulldogs in the preliminary final.
The Giants have been installed favourites to win the premiership in just their sixth season.
Deledio will be the fourth No.1 pick on the Giants list, but will likely have the final year of his lucrative contract reworked to comply with the Giants 2017 salary cap. GWS may also demand Richmond pay some of his salary.
He will join fellow stars Johnson, Heath Shaw and Ryan Griffen in wanting to finish their careers at Spotless Stadium and will add further silk to a side blessed with transition power.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brett-deledio-announces-gws-giants-as-preferred-destination-as-trade-deadline-looms/news-story/3312dc68bdc1e9dad9d0e7a8f7afd00b
