Greater Western Sydney are preparing to snatch Adelaide's Kurt Tippett from their cross-town rivals if the forward nominates for the national or pre-season drafts.
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Giants chief executive David Matthews confirmed the club was keen to lure Tippett to western Sydney instead of joining the Swans.
The Giants spoke to Tippett's management earlier this month but were told his clear preference was for a trade to Sydney.
Tippett was set to join the Swans until Adelaide confessed a side deal with Tippett to the AFL, which launched an investigation into his contract with the Crows.
With the key forward's future now unclear, the Giants want their Blacktown base to become his new home.
''Given that he's got family in Sydney and given our desire to get some more mature players … we'll certainly have a close look at Kurt's situation,'' Matthews said.
GWS have the first pick in the pre-season draft and pick numbers one, two and three in the national draft.
That gives the Giants first crack at Tippett if he opts to enter either draft.
''We now definitely need to renew our consideration of him,'' Matthews said. ''We've got the opportunity, the question now is if he is affordable.''
The Swans are still hoping to recruit Tippett via the pre-season draft, but Tippett will need AFL approval of any decision he makes, including the salary terms that he nominates.
The result is a golden chance for GWS to add the 25-year-old star to their young list.
''We need to do our due diligence on firstly what Kurt's going to do, which draft he may nominate for, or how he actually re-enters the AFL system, then it's a matter of getting an understanding of what sort of cost he comes with,'' Matthews said.
Matthews re-signed with the Giants yesterday to remain the club's boss for the next three seasons, and would like to see the young team playing finals football by the end of that tenure.
''I'd like to think that we're being very competitive, and by the end of year three, hopefully knocking on the door of the eight,'' he said.
The AFL will issue its 2013 fixture later this week, with the Giants already locked into a pre-season clash with Essendon and a twilight premiership match against St Kilda at Manuka Oval. It is understood the other two Canberra matches are likely to be against the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast.
