AFL: GWS Giants defender Isaac Cumming urges Jacob Hopper and co. to remain at the club

Giants defender Isaac Cumming hopes several torn teammates reject growing rival interest and remain at the club.

Jacob Hopper is the latest Greater Western Sydney star caught up in trade chatter as Tim Taranto, Tanner Bruhn and Bobby Hill also weigh up whether or not to stay at the Giants.

The difference with Hopper is he is contracted for next season but he will be a free agent and clubs often seek to maximise their compensation by trading players in that position a year early.

The 25-year-old on-baller will play just his second senior game of the year against Brisbane in Canberra on Saturday after recovering from a second bout of knee surgery.

Richmond and Geelong are both keen to add Hopper to their midfield stocks.

“Each player has their own, different carrots dangled in front of them, but, at the end of the day, we want players to stay at our footy club,” Cumming said.

“Blokes like Hopper obviously have a pretty big decision to make. It’s up to them and their manager, but we hope he sticks around, for sure.”

GWS has endured a difficult season after making the finals last year, winning only five of 16 matches and suffering through the exit of long-time coach Leon Cameron.

Mark McVeigh is serving as the Giants’ interim coach for the rest of the season and keen to win the job in an ongoing capacity but faces stiff competition from the likes of Alastair Clarkson and Don Pyke.

“As a player, it’s been a pretty easy transition,” Cumming said.

“Obviously, Spike’s (McVeigh) been around for a long time and he and I have a very good relationship from back when he coached under-16s Academy.

“I love him – all the players love him – and it’s been pretty seamless so far.”

The Lions clash doubles as Cumming’s 50th career match and illustrates how far he has come since playing only 10 matches in his first four years on the GWS list.

Cumming’s highlights to date include playing in his first two finals last year, as well as the understrength Giants’ monumental round 21 upset of Geelong, where he gathered an equal game-high 34 disposals.

“It’s been sort of a long journey to get to 50 (but) it’s been a great journey so far and I hope it doesn’t take me another six years to get another 50,” he said.

“I had to wait in line, because we had some stars in the backline, but once I got my opportunity off the back of them leaving, I knew that I didn’t want to give that up.

“I just make sure I put everything into each week and maintain my spot.”