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RUCKMAN Jonathan Giles has nominated Essendon as his preferred new home over Adelaide.
The Giants ruckman had been weighing up his football future after meeting with the Crows and Bombers over the past week, but AFL.com.au understands Giles decided on Tuesday morning that his future lay at Essendon.
The Bombers now have until 2pm on Thursday to arrange a trade with the Giants, with the Dons understood to have offered Giles a two-year deal.
Having missed out on Giles, Adelaide could now focus on securing Hawthorn ruckman Luke Lowden, as it seeks to provide more support for No.1 ruckman Sam Jacobs.
Giles, 26, looms as a ready-made replacement for Patrick Ryder, who is seeking a trade from Essendon to Port Adelaide.
"Jonathan obviously had a big decision to make. He met with both Essendon and Adelaide over the last couple of days and he's made a decision this morning that he feels from a football point of view that his opportunities will be greater at Essendon," manager Tom Petroro said.
"I think there was a lure to go back to Adelaide obviously because that's where he's from and hence the decision, well he agonised over the decision for probably the last 24 hours, came to it this morning and hopefully now the two list managers Adrian Dodoro and Stephen Silvagni can work out a deal to get it done.
"I think he's really enjoyed his time at GWS.
"Once the season finished he weighed it all up and thought well hopefully there's some clubs interested and my opportunity would be better elsewhere."
Giles has shown an ability to hit the scoreboard when pinch-hitting in attack, and the Bombers feel he and fellow ruckman Tom Bellchambers can work well together in the same team.
The South Australian is contracted at GWS to the end of next season, but Giles told the club in his post-season review that he was keen to find a new football home after being overlooked for senior selection in the second half of 2014 as Shane Mumford cemented the No. 1 ruck position.
Giles made his AFL debut in the Giants' inaugural AFL game in round one, 2012, and became the first player to reach 50 games for the expansion club in round eight this year.
But after playing the Giants' first nine games this season, Giles was dropped and could not break back into the senior team despite outstanding form in the NEAFL.
Giles finished fifth in the Giants' 2012 best and fairest count, having averaged 14.3 possessions and 22.1 hit-outs a game and kicked 18 goals.
He followed that up with a sixth-place finish in last year's best and fairest award, when he averaged 10.5 possessions and 24.3 hitouts a match and kicked 14 goals.
Prior to joining the Giants, Giles spent four seasons at Port Adelaide without playing a senior game.
Giles has played 51 AFL games.
