The Sydney Swans recruited an experienced ruckman as well as strengthened their draft assets in the 2020 AFL trade period.
Big man Tom Hickey joined the Swans on Wednesday in a deal that saw an exchange of draft selections with the West Coast Eagles.
Executive GM of Football Charlie Gardiner said the club was pleased to be able to welcome the 201cm ruckman to the club.
“We were looking at a number of different options but we decided to zero in on Tom and we are happy to get it done,” Gardiner told AFL Trade Radio.
“We have looked at Tom for a while and when he has had an opportunity to play as the number one ruck he has acquitted himself well.
“We think he can provide us with some really good contests in the middle and get some first use for our midfielders.
“He should work in really well with Callum Sinclair in an alternating role and allow Callum to move forward a bit for us.”
Gardiner said the trade for Aliir was based around the key defender opting for the security of a long term deal on offer from Port Adelaide.
“We would have loved to see Aliir stay but he did come to us with a desire to get to Port Adelaide and it was incumbent on us to consider it.
“One of our objectives in the trade period was to bring in a ruckman and the deal we did Port Adelaide was able to unlock a deal to bring Tom to the club.”
“Weighing up a number of things which you do when you are facilitating trades, we decided to work with Port Adelaide and get the deal done.”
Sydney’s final trade of the 2020 period saw an exchange of draft picks with Melbourne in a move that saw the Swans gain an additional 228 draft index points.
Sydney received a second-round selection (pick 31) and a third-round selection (pick 43) from Melbourne in exchange for a second-round selection (pick 25).
The deal strengthens the club’s position to match bids which may come for academy talent.
Sydney holds picks 3, 31, 34, 43, 58, 62 and 82 at the upcoming AFL Draft as well as future first and second-round selections in the 2021 draft.
