The Sydney Swans will lodge paperwork with the AFL to secure South Adelaide forward Hayden McLean as a rookie for the 2019 AFL season.

McLean joins the club under the pre-season supplementary list rules replacing injured defender Jack Maibaum (ACL).

The 20-year-old had been completing a pre-season with South Adelaide in the SANFL after winning VFL club Sandringham’s Best First-Year Player last year, and being vice-captain of Vic Metro in 2017.

Sydney Swans General Manager of Recruiting and List Strategy Kinnear Beatson said after the loss of Maibaum, the Club was keen to secure the services of a young developing key position player.

“Hayden has been a member of AFL Academy and did his AFL club placement with the Swans – he was impressive in that time,” Beatson said.

“Having been overlooked in the draft, he had a very successful season with the Sandringham Zebras in the VFL playing as a key forward/pinch hitting ruckman, often against players such as Matthew Leuenberger (Essendon), Brayden Preuss (North Melbourne) and Zac Smith (Geelong). We’re really pleased that Hayden will finally get his chance at AFL level.”

Beatson said the Swans must also acknowledge the support of South Adelaide Football Club in withdrawing McLean from an intra-club game to avoid injury.

“Whilst difficult for the Panthers at this stage of the year, they’ve been nothing but supportive of Hayden realising his dream of being on an AFL list,” Beatson said. 

Under the new rules, Sydney had until March 15 to sign a player to complete its list ahead of the upcoming season.