Retention of talent has been the biggest issue the Giants have faced since entering the AFL in 2012.
Just two of their first picks in drafts between 2011 and 2020 remain at the club after homesick trio Jacob Hopper (2015), Tim Taranto (2016) and Tanner Bruhn (2020) all exited to premiership contenders during the trade period.
GWS have traded up to secure the first pick in this year's draft and McCartney admits they have to be extremely careful about who they select.
"When you're an interstate club the draft board is predominantly, at the top end, littered with Victorian talent, you've got some risk there," McCartney told Trade Radio.
"You might think it's fine that you just pick this player and get them into your environment and your system and it's all fine, but if there's apprehension about a player right from the word go about making the move interstate and they may go home, you just can't take the risk.
"The draft board for us and maybe some other interstate clubs, it's not the same draft board.
"And that's OK, that's the reality, we're not complaining about it, so we do have to look at things a little bit differently."
Ahead of the 2020 draft, now-Essendon player Archie Perkins detailed in an interview about how he had told clubs he wanted to remain in Victoria and it wouldn't be in the "best interests" of a team outside the state to pick him.
"I wouldn't be 100 per cent with it if I was going over there and couldn't really commit myself 100 per cent as opposed to staying here where I'd be 100 per cent ready to go and fully committed," Perkins said.
"I just don't think I'm ready for that and I wanted to be honest about it."
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