The Bulldogs have said the only basis on which they will discuss a trade for Griffen is if it involves Boyd so if Boyd is not involved they will not trade the contracted Griffen. The Dogs are confident that Boyd is committed to coming to the Bulldogs now in a trade or next year when out of contract. Despite the Dogs' aggressive attempt to leverage Griffen into what for them would be a palatable trade, the Giants insist they will not trade their contracted star forward under any circumstances. "He is not going anywhere, he is an enormous talent and part of our future. We are going to hold onto Tom Boyd," Shepherd told Fairfax Media from Vienna on Monday night. He said he was confident a deal could be done for Griffen to join the Giants without involving Boyd. He was untroubled by the fact the Dogs had approached their young player with a long-term offer, saying it was the nature of the industry at this time of year. News of Boyd's request for a trade to the Dogs prompted StKilda to inquire as to his possible availability. The Saints, who have the No.1 pick in this year's draft and have declared their interest in trading it, contacted Boyd's manager, Liam Pickering, and the Giants immediately after Boyd's request was revealed. But Giants officials believe that there would be an auction of all Victorian clubs at the end of next year if Boyd still wanted to return home then. They believe the compensation in those circumstances would likely be greater than now.

The Bulldogs have long been eyeing all three of the GWS' big forwards – Boyd, Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron. They have previously made overtures to both Patton and Cameron for long-term deals. Patton was made an informal, six-year offer to move, while Cameron was given indications of what an offer might look like were he prepared to entertain further negotiations. The expectation of a deal for Griffen to move to the Giants – before Boyd's request was announced – had been for the Bulldogs to receive picks four and seven from the Giants in exchange for Griffen and the Dogs' pick six. Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said a direct swap of Griffen and Boyd was appropriate. "What we think is fair and equitable is a straight trade," Gordon told the club's website. "Value for value; we think that's fair."