EXCLUSIVE: GREATER Western Sydney forward Cam McCarthy's remains determined to leave the Giants, his manager Colin Young says.

The 20-year-old asked for a trade less than two weeks ago but the Giants rejected the request.

They have since expressed confidence in retaining him and claimed he is happy at the Giants.

However Young told AFL.com.au McCarthy "does not want to represent Greater Western Sydney going forward".

Trade whispers: Ruckmen in demand as suitors circle

The young Western Australian forward, who is contracted to the Giants until the end of 2017, had a break out season in just his second year kicking 35 goals in 20 games and earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

His name has been linked with Fremantle, which is keen to bolster its forward line, with skipper Matthew Pavlich nearing the end of his illustrious career.

On Saturday, Giants coach Leon Cameron said on the ABC they were confident McCarthy would stay despite being homesick.

He also said he had no indication from McCarthy that he wanted to leave when they spoke at the end of the season.

"We feel he’s pretty happy at the footy club … my exit meeting with him was just happy," Cameron said.

However Young claimed the club did not try to have a lengthy discussion with McCarthy to hear his reasons for requesting a trade back to Western Australia where he grew up. "I'm not sure a five-to-10-minute exit meeting could clearly allow Cam to press his personal reasons for a trade to Leon," Young said.

The Giants sent No.1 draft pick Tom Boyd to the Western Bulldogs in the 2014 trade period in exchange for Ryan Griffen and a first-round pick, after initially declaring there was no way he would be traded.

However CEO Dave Matthews said they eventually decided that Boyd should be traded because the offer was too good to refuse and they wanted a united and loyal playing group that wanted to represent western Sydney and Canberra.

Cameron said on Sunday he was keen to keep McCarthy.

"We clearly see a future for Cam McCarthy (at the Giants). He’s a terrific kid and we want him to be a 10-year player," Cameron said.

The trade period officially opens on October 12.