GREATER Western Sydney went to the 2016 NAB AFL Draft confident of picking up a certain small forward, but West Coast spoiled the plan.

Giants recruiting manager Adrian Caruso joins the Road to the Draft podcast this week and reveals which current Eagle was in the club's sights.

The Giants missed out then but stocked up on small forwards last year, and Caruso discusses the club's recruiting philosophy to land Brent Daniels and Zac Langdon.

Find Road to the Draft on iTunes, Audioboom, Acast, Mixcloud or RSS.

In this week's episode ...

Callum Twomey and Nat Edwards are joined by Greater Western Sydney recruiting manager Adrian Caruso. In a wide-ranging interview, Caruso talks about the club's recent draft selections and their development, the areas the Giants could look to bolster this off-season and his view on the No.1 pick contenders in 2018.

Episode guide

6:35 – The NAB AFL Draft Combine list was revealed last week. Caruso chats through the process of nominations and if there were any surprises.

10:20 – Where would last year's No.1 pick Cam Rayner fit in this year's draft?

12:39 – Who are the Giants' main Academy prospects this year and will they end up at GWS?

16:20 – Caruso reveals when the Giants identified Aiden Bonar as their top pick ahead of last year's draft.

19:00 – How the Eagles pipped the Giants

31:20  – Is Dylan Shiel a chance to leave the Giants? Caruso discusses the club's group of high-profile free agents in 2019.

34:28 – What is the perfect draftee? Caruso gives his take on the ideal prospect to suit the modern game.