GWS were targeting young Richmond defender Hugo Ralphsmith as part of a Jacob Hopper trade according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary.
With Hopper likely to end up at Punt Road, the Giants floated Ralphsmith’s name in negotiations as they look for a bigger return than a future first-round selection and pick 31 for the star midfielder.
While new Giants coach Adam Kingsley is a “big fan” of Ralphsmith, he won’t be taking the dashing defender with him to his new club after the Tigers knocked back their advances.
“One name that was raised initially from the Giants’ part was Hugo Ralphsmith,” Cleary said on 7 News.
“The young Tiger Rising Star nominee, he’s been really exciting for the Tigers.
“Adam Kingsley the new Giants coach is a big fan of this man Hugo Ralphsmith, I do understand he did ask as part of the Hopper deal if they could get their hands on Hugo Ralphsmith.
“It was knocked back pretty quickly, he did find his way out of the Tigers’ team at the late part of the season but that won’t be happening.
“But Adam Kingsley was keen to get the ball rolling on that.”
With Ralphsmith out of the picture, it looks like Ivan Soldo will join the Giants as part of the Hopper trade, with the premiership ruckman already completing a medical with the club.
New Giants Coach Adam Kingsley is targeting a young Tiger – new details with @TomBrowne7 and @cleary_mitch in today’s Inside Trades washup. https://t.co/3rTmZPHsn3 @7AFL #AFLTrades #InsideTrades #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/7vXEHvbjj9
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) October 6, 2022