SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos expects former Brisbane Lion Daniel Bradshaw to make a smooth transition to his new club through the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft.

Bradshaw's manager Colin Young told the Swans on Saturday afternoon that the 30-year-old wanted to play for them after deciding against continuing his career at Carlton.

Bradshaw turned down a new contract with the Lions after being offered up as a trade to secure former Blues forward Brendan Fevola's move to the Lions during the AFL's exchange period.

Although four clubs have a selection in the pre-season draft before the Swans, Roos said Bradshaw's circumstances made it almost certain that he would be available at their first pick.

"With a guy like that, generally clubs would have contacted him by now, as we have and Carlton have," Roos said on Monday.

"He's got four kids, he carries a salary as he should and you've got to have room in your salary cap. Obviously he's 30 years old as well and some clubs like Melbourne and Richmond are going down different paths.

"We expect him to get to pick five but obviously there are no guarantees."

Roos said Bradshaw, who kicked 50 goals for the Lions in 2009 and leaves the club as its leading goalkicker with 496, was an ideal addition to the Swans' revamped forward line.

"Going into last year, we wouldn’t have thought we would lose both Mick (O'Loughlin) and Hally (Barry Hall)," Roos said.

"With Mick and Jesse (White) out of the goal square and Goodesy (Adam Goodes) at centre half-forward, our forward set-up was really solid towards the end of the year. To lose Mick and get Daniel in that same role is pretty important.

"He can also do a bit of mentoring with Jesse, so it's really positive for us as a footy club."