GREATER Western Sydney has met with Essendon to discuss what it might take to secure the Bombers' No.1 draft pick, ramping up negotiations as trade period nears.

The two clubs met on Friday with the Giants keen to get their hands on the first pick in the NAB AFL Draft, as speculation continues that it wants to secure highly rated defender Andy McGrath.

• Which draft picks is your club taking into Trade Period?

The athletic McGrath was Vic Metro co-captain and could bolster the Giants' defensive stocks as Heath Shaw enters his twilight years and Joel Patfull considers his future.

• Who's on the move? Nick Bowen tracks 2016's free agents

Securing the No.1 pick would enable the Giants to draft a player before using its draft points to secure academy prospects Will Setterfield and Harry Perryman, although the Giants remain hopeful rather than optimistic of gaining pole position.

AFL.com.au understands the Bombers are attracted to the prospect of turning their No.1 into two high draft picks to potentially replicate their draft strategy of the past two years and bring more talented youngsters into the club.

In the 2015 draft the Bombers chose Darcy Parish at pick No.5 and Aaron Francis at pick No.6, and in 2014 they added Kyle Langford at pick No.17 and Jayden Laverde at No.20.

The Giants hold picks 7, 15 and 16 but remain hopeful of gaining pick No.5 for Caleb Marchbank after he decided to join Carlton.

The Blues are unlikely to handover pick No.5 for Marchbank, but may be prepared to entertain doing so if they can also get hold of one of the Giants' other first-round picks or another player such as James Stewart or Jarrod Pickett.

The Bombers hold pick one and 19 but having three picks inside the first 19 selections rather than two would be considered a good option given the even nature of this year's draft.

The Giants have made three No.1 selections, with its 2013 pick Tom Boyd playing in a premiership with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, two years after being traded from the club.

Gold Coast could also be interested in getting their hands on the No.1 pick to recruit a player before it uses draft points to obtain academy graduate Jack Bowes.

Want more draft news?

• The draft pool: Cal Twomey analyses this year's best prospects

• NAB AFL Under-18s: 2016 results, news and video highlights

• NAB AFL Draft Hub: Get to know your club's future stars