No deal was completed for Hately - who will instead walk to his preferred destination Adelaide through the pre-season draft,where they have the first pick - with the Giants left frustrated by their discussions both with the Crows and the Bombers over Caldwell.

"Each club's got to do the best thing by their club. But you've got to find a way to do it in a respectful manner,"McCartney said.

"The reality was what Adelaide was putting forward was not good enough. Pick 40,for a pick 14[player] two years earlier,is not cutting the mustard.

"We don't want to be walking people to the draft but ... when it's that far off the mark,we're not doing it.

"And the Caldwell one was a millimetre away from not getting done either. That's Essendon:target a player,high quality,get him in the door,and then not[be] prepared to stump up the price to actually facilitate the deal."

Despite suggestions from many pundits that the Giants'premiership window has slammed shut,McCartney is optimistic about what lies ahead for GWS,who were also able to bring in a much-needed ruckman in Braydon Preuss and a replacement for Cameron in ex-Melbourne and Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan.

"I only have to go back to 2018 when[Rory] Lobb,[Will] Setterfield,[Dylan] Shiel,[Tom] Scully - out they go,everyone is questioning'what is going on at the Giants? You can't lose that quality,'"he said.

"We played off in a grand final within 12 months. We've got a lot of quality still here,there'll be more quality coming in over the next month.

"There's some very hungry and eager players to right some wrongs in 2021. We've just got to get to work now and let everyone else talk about the doom and gloom."