Sydney Swans confirm interest in Collingwood defender Tom Langdon

SYDNEY has flexed its muscles at the trade table with some aggressive moves already, highlighted by the pursuit of gun Collingwood defender Tom Langdon. The Swans have also secured some midfield depth but traded out Gary Rohan.

Collingwood defender Tom Langdon has had a medical at Sydney. Picture: Michael Klein

SYDNEY are trying to move mountains at the trade table, while one of their main targets is off scaling them.

The Swans have made some aggressive moves in the market, highlighted by their attempt to land Collingwood Grand Final defender Tom Langdon, who completed a medical in Sydney this week.

In a busy day three of trade week on Wednesday the Swans dealt Gary Rohan to Geelong for pick 61, secured North Melbourne’s Ryan Clarke and traded picks to strengthen their position to claim academy star Nick Blakey at next month’s draft.

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Langdon was the big surprise after being one of the Magpies’ best in the finals and starring in the decider, taking seven marks and gathering 23 possessions.

But the Swans have been tracking the 24-year-old all year, knowing he was coming off contract. And they’ll have to continue monitoring him after he flew out to Africa with his brother, Fremantle’s Ed Langdon, as they plan to climb Mt Kilimanjaro with their father.

Collingwood defender Tom Langdon has had a medical at Sydney. Picture: Michael Klein

“We’ll need to work on the wonders of technology to facilitate something,” Swans head of football Tom Harley said. “We have certainly got an interest in Tom.”

The Swans contacted Magpies list manager Ned Guy on Monday and Langdon flew to Sydney a day later to tour their facilities.

While the Swans are well served for defenders, Langdon’s potential arrival would release players like Zak Jones and Callum Mills to play in the midfield.

“Midfield depth is important for us,” Harley said.

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“As well as Jones and Mills we’ve also got players like Ryley Stoddard and Matthew Ling we want to bring into the midfield.”

The Swans used pick No.61 they obtained for Rohan to then secure Clarke from North Melbourne.

“We’re pleased to be able to finalise this trade for Gary to get him back home but also to assist us to secure Ryan Clarke from North Melbourne,” Harley said.

The Swans have secured Ryan Clarke from North Melbourne. Picture: Getty

Clarke has played 40 games in his three years at the Kangaroos and is expected to add depth to Sydney’s midfield stocks with Dan Hannebery expected to finish up at St Kilda.

The Swans also strengthened their position at next month’s AFL draft by trading pick 13 for Carlton’s picks 26 and 28 and Adelaide’s selection 40.

While it looks like Sydney are trading down, the points value of the three new picks (1,835 points) gives them 600 points more than the value of pick 13 (1,212 points) which will allow them to snare academy star Blakey and still have second round selections 33 and 38.

“We’re rapt with today’s trade that will see us enter next month’s AFL draft in a much stronger position,” Harley said.

The trade formed part of a three-way deal between Sydney, Carlton and Adelaide, which saw Carlton receive Mitch McGovern and Adelaide’s 2019 third round pick, while the Crows got pick 13, SANFL player Shane McAdam and Carlton’s 2019 fifth round pick.

Originally published as Sydney Swans confirm interest in Collingwood defender Tom Langdon