AFL.com.au\u2019s Riley Beveridge has said he believes Geelong and Sydney are going to be two of the more active teams come this year\u2019s trade period.<\/p>\n
Both the Cats and the Swans have suffered noticeable drop-offs since facing each other in last year\u2019s grand final, each currently sitting outside the top eight as they battle to stay alive in the finals race.<\/p>\n
With the two clubs having experienced plenty of recent success with their current lists, Beveridge said he\u2019s expecting them both to retool around their core playing group in the off-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll both have big summers in terms of what they do with their list,\u201d he told SEN\u2019s Crunch Time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know Geelong is right in the mix for Tom De Koning, we know the Swans are casting the net far and wide for a key position player at either end of the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re both going to be right in the hunt and two of the more aggressive teams come the trade period.\u201d<\/p>\n
Considering Sydney\u2019s needs, Beveridge said he\u2019s is expecting GWS\u2019 Harry Himmelberg to sit high on their list of targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be in the mix for Harry Himmelberg,\u201d he said. \u201cHe gives you an option and a foil for Logan McDonald if you think Logan McDonald\u2019s your next key forward for the next 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the reigning premiers, Beveridge believes a midfield addition will be a high priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at Geelong\u2019s midfield, particularly over the last month when Cam Guthrie and Patrick Dangerfield haven\u2019t played, and the onus has been on guys like Brad Close who\u2019ve gone in there a lot and guys like Zac Guthrie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo they need another genuine midfielder, another genuine 25-to-26-year-old midfielder as well as a Tom De Koning at season\u2019s end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geelong\u2019s engine room doesn\u2019t look to be the only area of focus, with SEN\u2019s Sam Edmund suggesting that their backline could be in line for a shake-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeelong down back is interesting as well, since Esava Ratugolea has come back in, he\u2019s obviously gone back to that newfound position in defence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got [Ratugolea], [Jack] Henry, [Sam] De Koning, [Jake] Kolodjashnij, [Tom] Stewart, who can play small admittedly, but they\u2019re big down back aren\u2019t they.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Ratugolea is] another player who hasn\u2019t signed at Geelong, will want to play every week, wanted to be traded at the end of last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very interesting situation with Geelong down back and how they set up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cats and Swans faced off in a scrappy grand final replay last Friday night, with the resulting draw giving neither side much opportunity to close the gap to the top eight.<\/p>\n