THE HEAVY penalties handed down to Essendon over the supplement scandal have left Greater Western Sydney better placed to try to recruit out-of-contract Bombers.

The Giants are in the market for experienced players and will have draft picks to use as possible trade bait.

Conversely, Essendon has been forced out of the opening two rounds of the 2013 NAB AFL Draft as part of the punishment handed down on Tuesday night by the AFL Commission.

There had been a suggestion some clubs may be wary of trading with players from Windy Hill due to the ongoing ASADA investigation, which could still lead to infractions against the players.

But GWS chief executive Dave Matthews said on Wednesday his club was now more likely to negotiate with the Bombers.

Tom Bellchambers and Stewart Crameri have been mentioned as potential trade targets, with the Giants urgently in need of some experienced bodies to add to their young list.

"(GWS list manager) Stephen Silvagni is under instructions to talk to every club about players they might be prepared to trade," Matthew said.

"I think there's a bit of a sense that, given the draft penalties, Essendon would be more prepared (to trade) than they might otherwise be.

"(Silvagni's) been analysing their list just like every other list all year, so we'll just sit back and wait and see what his recommendations might be.
"We're on the record as saying we want to get some more established players in; they might have some established players they want to trade to get into the draft and get in earlier.

"This might heighten the chance of us doing deals with Essendon."

Asked specifically if the ongoing ASADA investigation was a deterrent, Matthews gave no doubts where the Giants stand.

"I think there's ways of doing your due diligence and ensuring any particular penalty or sanctions that might come up down the track, you're able to plan for that or take that into account," he said.

"Right now, as Andrew Demetriou said, there hasn't been any infraction notices served.

"We need to deal with the facts as they sit in front of us and the facts are that Essendon's out of the first couple of rounds of the draft, we're in it, and if they want to try to get in it we'd certainly be open to talking to them."

Outgoing GWS coach Kevin Sheedy was also at Wednesday's press conference as speculation continues about his future.

He has been offered a contract to remain in western Sydney, while there has also been a suggestion he could fill the breach left by James Hird's suspension for the next 12 months.

Sheedy is prepared to help his old club, but ruled out taking over the coaching reins.

He did concede the Bombers deserved stiff penalties.

"Essendon have to sort themselves out," he said.

"They've been smacked a decent wallop - it's probably a Muhammad Ali knockout I'd say, one of the biggest hits you'd get in AFL and in sport in general.

"I'm not saying the Bombers didn't deserve some severe penalties.

"Let's face it, when you walk in and say you're going to give kids an opportunity to get bigger and stronger and put you on a supplement program, what the hell does that mean? I don't know.

"When you think back in retrospect, it wasn't that smart."

Sheedy is pleased Hird has been given an opportunity to re-take the reins once his suspension ends and hopes the club can bounce back quickly.

He would also love Stephen Dank to break his silence.

"I'd be annoyed if I thought somebody injected my son, definitely, if what was in the supplements was incorrect.

"No one even knows this mix of supplements. Is it true? Is it innuendo?

"I don't think the public knows and I don’t even think the AFL knows and there's only one person that does.

"I think the whole lot of us have been 'Dank-ed' and I keep saying that."

Twitter: @AFL_JD