The Sydney Swans have brought in a combination of players, points and future draft selections during this year’s trade period.
On the final day of the trade period, the Swans secured 24-year-old rebounding defender Jackson Thurlow from Geelong, who's set to join fellow recruit Ryan Clarke in red and white next season.
Thurlow will add to the Club’s defensive stocks, joining the likes of up-and-coming defenders Aliir Aliir, Callum Mills and Lewis Melican, while Clarke will strengthen Sydney’s midfield, led by Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney.
The Swans have also added an extra 353 draft value index points they’ll use to help secure exciting QBE Sydney Swans Academy product Nick Blakey at next month’s National Draft.
Under new AFL rules, clubs have the ability to continue trading picks and the Swans will look to further strengthen their draft hand.
Swans Head of Football Tom Harley says the Club is pleased with the trade period.
“It was a really busy period for us and all clubs. Clearly we brought some players into the Club in Ryan Clarke and Jackson Thurlow and players went out in Dan Hannebery, Gary Rohan and Nic Newman,” Harley said.
“There were a number of picks that were swapped that strengthened our draft hand, which was a really good result for us, while some future picks were also acquired.
“We pretty much covered all of these bases and vehicles to trade and I think we’ve come out ahead.
“The trade period is obviously a really important part of every club’s list management strategy but just as important is your retention strategy with your players and we went in with a clear focus this year to retain some of our really important players in that age profile that we think sets us up for the future.
“Players like our Club Champion Jake Lloyd, Aliir Aliir and Sam Naismith all re-signed, as did some of our younger players like Ollie Florent and Will Hayward.
“When you look at all of that and the natural development of the squad, which we saw this year and we should see further developments next year, I think we’re well placed to continue to challenge now and in the future.”
In the final minutes of the trade period, the Swans traded out-of-contract defender Newman to Carlton in exchange for a future fourth-round pick, with Newman joining Hannebery and Rohan in returning home to Victoria.
Harley thanked the trio for the impact they had at Sydney.
“Dan, Gary and Nic all made a big contribution to the Swans over the years,” Harley said.
“We thank them for their contribution and wish them all the best with the next stage of their football careers.”
The Swans will now turn their attention to the upcoming drafts and finalising their 2019 list.
Trade period summary
In: Jackson Thurlow, Ryan Clarke, 353 draft index points, St Kilda’s future second-round pick and Carlton’s future fourth-round pick
Out: Dan Hannebery, Gary Rohan and Nic Newman
