Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has spoken out about the club’s controversial trade restrictions, which were put in place by the AFL earlier this month.

The restrictions, which apply to the current trade period as well as next year’s, stipulate that the Swans can only trade in delisted free agents, players through the draft, or rookie upgrades, or lose the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) immediately if the club does not comply.

Speaking to The Age newspaper’s Chief Football Writer, Caroline Wilson, Longmire said the AFL had denied the club and players their ‘fundamental’ right to take part in the AFL Trade period.

"It's Monday and we are sitting here on the sidelines, watching the activities going on with the trade period and we're not part of it," Longmire said.

"That's not to say we would have been doing much this year, but surely that's not the issue.

"From a coach's perspective we're trying to manage our list to try to get better and this is being done to us.

“I've got my thoughts as to why but that's not my battle. I'm here to coach the team.”

The Swans were reportedly notified in the week leading up to the 2014 AFL Grand Final that trade restrictions would be imposed on the club, but Longmire said the club was hopeful the plan would not eventuate.

"We knew it was in the pipeline, but we were hoping it wasn't going to be the case," Longmire said.

The Swans have been active in the last two trade periods, most notably securing the services of key forwards Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin, but also farewelling several senior players including Jude Bolton, Marty Mattner, Shane Mumford, Jesse White, Mitch Morton, Jed Lamb, Tony Armstrong and Andrejs Everitt.

The coach said he was at a loss as to why the ban had been imposed on the Swans, who he believed are being penalised despite playing by the rules imposed by the AFL.

"You'd have to ask the AFL because I've got no idea,” he said.

“We've made decisions over the journey to try to get better as a team. We've made decisions based on our requirements and in accordance with the rules.

"We've clearly run foul of someone somewhere."

With the 2014 AFL Trade Period set to close at 2pm this Thursday, Longmire said the club had all but given up hope of having the ban overturned this year, adding that all involved at the Swans were disappointed with the decision.

"This is a fundamental plank allowed to all clubs to manage their lists,” he said.

“And it's a fundamental plank that the players want as part of their rights as an AFL player. We are being restricted, and so are the players.”

The Herald Sun's Jon Ralph reported that the club was hopeful of fronting the AFL Commission and reversing the trade restrictions, but Ralph went on to say it seemed unlikely the case would be heard by the league.

"We continue to talk to Gill (McLachlan) and the administration, but failing any outcome, we ultimately want to speak to the Commission," Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said.