The Sydney Swans will look to address adding midfield depth with strong runners and key position players during the upcoming trade period.
Head of Football Tom Harley said the club had identified specific needs they would be looking to address in the trade period when it gets underway on Monday October 8.
“We make no apologies about the fact we want to improve our list with specific needs,” Harley said.
“We want to increase our midfield depth, get some run through there and some really good runners and also some key position players.”
“It is probably the same as most clubs, we think we have a really strong group of players under 23 (years old).
“Midfield depth, speed on the outside and key position players that all come at the right price so we are probably no different to most clubs.”
Harley confirmed the Club’s interest in North Melbourne midfielder Ryan Clarke and Melbourne on-baller Aaron Vandenberg.
Both players have met with the Club in the last week to further explore options of a trade.
Clarke has played 40 games for North Melbourne, including 19 this season, since being taken with pick 31 in the 2015. National draft.
Harley confirmed on AFL Trade Radio that Clarke had met with the Swans.
“We did that (met with Clarke). We had a good discussion with Ryan,” Harley said.
“We’ve got an interest there for sure. He’s not a free agent so that would need to be a trade.”
Harley also confirmed the Club has met with Melbourne’s Aaron vandenBerg following the completion of the Demons season.
“We’ve had a discussion with Aaron,” he added.
“He’s a player who is out of contract and we have an interest in.
“There’s nothing really concrete with us at the moment. Aaron is a player of interest.”
Out of contract Swan Nic Newman has met with North Melbourne in recent weeks.
“We are aware that Nic has been to North Melbourne.
“Exactly the same situation with Ryan that North let us know that was on the cards.
“Nic’s out of contract at the moment with us and we are working through list spots and we haven’t made our major cuts into our list at this stage.
“We want to keep all those options open but we are certainly aware of North Melbourne’s interest.”
