Carlton youngster Troy Menzel has been traded to Adelaide for Sam Kerridge, in a deal that has paved the way for the Blues to pick up four Giants youngsters.

Menzel, the No.11 pick in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, joined Adelaide in exchange for Kerridge and pick No.28 at lunchtime on Wednesday.

In a separate deal, the Blues then on-traded pick No.28 together with No.77, 95 and Geelong's 2016 first-round pick (acquired in the Lachie Henderson trade) to Greater Western Sydney for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner and pick No.8.

Menzel entered this season as one of the Blues' most talented youngsters, having kicked 26 goals from 19 games in 2014.

But he struggled with form and fitness this season and managed just 13 goals from 14 games.

Menzel slipped down the order in the 2012 draft following serious knee injuries as a junior. At 16, he underwent LARS treatment instead of a knee reconstruction after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament.

Kerridge loomed as an exciting young talent when he broke into the Crows' team in his second season, 2013, and played 11 games.

He was nominated for that year's NAB AFL Rising Star Award after starring with 24 possessions and six goals in Adelaide's thrilling one-point win over North Melbourne in round nine.

Kerridge followed that up with a solid 2014 season, playing 14 games and stepping up as a run-with midfielder in Nathan van Berlo's absence.

But an early-season hamstring injury and Adelaide's midfield depth limited him to a sole senior appearance in 2015, in round eight against Greater Western Sydney.

Adelaide had expressed an interest in keeping the Victorian, but Carlton has offered the 22-year-old a three-year deal and he looks set for more opportunities at Ikon Park.

The Blues have been eyeing a package deal for Plowman, Lamb, Sumner and Phillips for some time, with list manager Stephen Silvagni having recruited them all during his four-year stint at the Giants.

All are contracted beyond this season but have struggled to establish themselves in the Giants' best 22.

Plowman was 2012's No.3 draft pick, but played just 20 games in his three seasons at GWS, including two this year.

Sumner was the No.10 pick in the Giants' inaugural draft of 2011, but the former Sandringham Dragons midfielder never established himself as a senior player in four seasons at the club, playing just 12 AFL games and none this year.

Forward Lamb joins his third AFL club, having played at the Sydney Swans for three years before crossing to the Giants ahead of the 2014 season.

Despite his outstanding form in the NEAFL with the Giants' reserves team this year, Lamb played just two senior games for a total of 10 in his two seasons at GWS.

Ruckman Phillips was one of the Giants' original rookie selections at the end of 2009 and showed promise in nine senior games in the club's debut AFL season, 2012.

But the Tasmanian has played just five games since and will be hoping that a fresh start at Carlton can rejuvenate his career.

Silvagni joined Carlton as its list manager ahead of the 2015 season after building the Giants' list from scratch ahead of their entry into the AFL in 2012.

Already this trade period, the Blues have traded key-position player Lachie Henderson to Geelong and midfielder Tom Bell to the Brisbane Lions for pick No.21 and a swap of later picks.

Defender Chris Yarran is also expected to join Richmond, with the Blues and Tigers currently haggling over whether pick No.12 or 19 will cross to Ikon Park.