Greater Western Sydney Giants make Carlton star Marc Murphy a target for AFL debut in 2011 season * By Craig Hutchison
* Herald Sun
* December 11, 2010 8:23PMCarlton midfielder Marc Murphy has emerged as a clear target for Greater Western Sydney, with the Giants launching an audacious bid to lure the Blues star north.
The Carlton on-baller is out of contract at the end of next season and is the only Blues player the Giants have set their sights on.
A former No.1 draft pick, he is earmarked for a leadership role at GWS and will be offered a multi-million-dollar deal to head to western Sydney after he was left out of Carlton's leadership group this year.
And while Carlton has opened negotiations with their clever ball magnet, talks are said to have stalled early and to be progressing slowly.
The Blues, whose coach Brett Ratten is also out of contract then and with an uncertain future, are keen to lock away the prized young gun.
Industry sources are adamant GWS has already secured a commitment from one player an unknown young star with its window for discussions still open for another week.
GWS are said to be primarily interested in 18 to 23-year-olds and Murphy fits the mark perfectly.
The Giants feel their premiership window is even further from reach than Gold Coast's and have adopted a strategy to draft young guns.
Interest in Collingwood's Dane Swan has cooled, with Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas, both out of contract, higher priorities due to their age.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/greater-western-sydney-giants-make-carlton-star-marc-murphy-a-target-for-afl-debut-in-2011-season/story-e6frf33l-1225969454735
