GREATER Western Sydney is weighing up whether it's worth meeting Kurt Tippett's wage demands and picking him up in next month's pre-season draft.
Tippett nominated for the December 11 pre-season draft on Wednesday and GWS holds the first pick.
Facing potential deregistration at a hearing in front of the AFL Commission on Friday, Tippett has been granted permission by the AFL to lodge his own financial terms for any potential suitor.
Tippett has long nominated the Sydney Swans as his preferred destination, but the Giants are deciding if they will spoil the party.
"We're going to be very keen to get him obviously," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.
"He may or may not get through to us in regards to what he's going to put on himself in (terms) of payments to play.
"Either way if we don't get him, then I hope Sydney do.
"It's great for AFL in Sydney, we want to get a player like that, we need a ruck-forward, that's the way I'm looking at it.
"That will complement the height and the structure of the team as we set sail into the next three or four years of where we hope to get to."
Asked if GWS had the money to meet what are expected to be hefty financial terms, Sheedy replied: "We've got plenty of money, it's whether we want to spend it.
"It's the rules of the AFL, particularly in zoning and drafting, and they've always been that way – you will go where you're told and where you're picked.
"If you go in the draft and get picked, you go wherever whoever picked you.
"That's the deal.
"If the money is right, we'll be going there."
Sheedy also isn't put off by the possibility of Tippett being deregistered over a contract he signed with Adelaide in 2009.
"That's the rules. We leave all those rules up to the AFL," he said.
"Even the great Leigh Matthews got deregistered and he's probably the best player I've ever seen, so that happens to everyone sometimes."
Tippett's decision to nominate for the pre-season draft overshadowed a day when the Giants' new draftees joined in training for the first time.
Lachie Whitfield, Jonathan O'Rourke and Lachlan Plowman – the top three picks in this year's NAB AFL Draft – plus Kristian Jaksch (pick No.12), Aidan Corr (14) and James Stewart (27) all took to the training track.
Just as with last year's draft class, Sheedy said all should expect to play in their first season in the AFL.
"It's great to have these boys drafted at last," Sheedy said.
"They'll all most likely play. I'd be disappointed if they didn't.
"Some of them need to get ready for Essendon (in the NAB Cup) down in Canberra because James Hird can't come to Canberra feeling comfortable.
"We'll find out which guys train their backsides off and see if they can get in there and see what we've got."
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
