Young Sydney Swan Patrick Veszpremi joins Western Bulldogs in exchange for Andrejs Everitt

WESTERN Bulldogs say Patrick Veszpremi had been on the club's hit list for some time before securing him in a trade for Andrejs Everitt.

WESTERN Bulldogs say Patrick Veszpremi had been on the club's hit list for some time before securing him on Wednesday in a trade for Andrejs Everitt.

In a deal signed off on this afternoon, Everitt will join the Swans in return for Veszpremi and a late draft pick.

“Patrick is a player we have kept our eyes on for a while now and we are very excited to get him down to the club," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said.

"We believe that he has a lot of potential and could become a real asset to the Western Bulldogs.

"He was a highly rated junior and we would obviously like to see him secure a regular spot in the senior side,” Fantasia said.

Fantasia said details of the draft pick would be finalised later in the week, but it is believed to be selection 73.

He said the Dogs were disappointed to lose Everitt.

 “I sincerely believe that this trade will be a win-win for both parties and I hope he can make the most of his new opportunity,” he said.

The players make a perfect swap - they are both 21, were both taken at pick 11 in the national draft (Everitt in 2006 and Veszpremi in 2007) and both have fewer than 50 games experience.

Incoming Swans coach John Longmire said Sydney wanted a player with flexibility to replace Veszpremi, and Everitt certainly fits the bill.

"We need to generally improve across the board," Longmire said yesterday.

"We would be probably looking at players who can play a number of different roles for us across the ground."

Veszpremi may not be the only Swan to depart, with premiership defender Paul Bevan and project ruckman Daniel Currie attracting interest on day one of trade week yesterday.

Bevan would accept a return to Melbourne after being upset that he was dropped for the semi-finals, while Currie was mentioned by several clubs keen to pick off Sydney's asset-rich ruck division.

The Swans haven't given up hope of securing disgruntled Brisbane midfielder Justin Sherman despite the player's desire to join the Bulldogs.

Sherman toured the Swans' headquarters last week and, while Sydney have significant salary cap space, Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia was supremely confident his club would net both Veszpremi and Sherman.