Sydney footy boss Tom Harley bullish on Swans’ trade period
SWANS football boss Tom Harley is making no apologies for a bullish approach to AFL’s off-season feeding frenzy after confirming vice-captain Dan Hannebery and speedster Gary Rohan are both set to be traded.
Sydney
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SWANS football boss Tom Harley is making no apologies for a bullish approach to the AFL’s off-season feeding frenzy after confirming vice-captain Dan Hannebery and speedster Gary Rohan are both set to be traded.
Hannebery has nominated St Kilda as his club of choice while Rohan, who has been linked with Geelong, has only specified he’s traded to a Victorian club.
However, trade rumours linking Swans superstar midfielder Luke Parker to Essendon are false according to Harley.
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“I can unequivocally deny that one,” Harley told The Daily Telegraph.
“I was very surprised to read that.
“I spoke to Luke today, I was confident there was nothing to it and I can certainly knock that one on the head.
Parker finished runner up in the 2016 Brownlow Medal and has won the Swans best and fairest twice (2014 and 2017).
While Sydney have declared the Parker is going nowhere there is no disputing the club is looking to make changes after their humiliating elimination final lost to the GWS Giants.
“We make no apologies about getting better,” Harley said.
“We are trying to improve, we finished seventh and we are a club with aspirations.
“I’ve got absolute faith in John (Longmire) and the coaches, the senior people around the club and the players we will do that.”
Hannebery’s move to St Kilda will present it’s challenges. The Saints have pick three in next year’s draft but are unlikely to give it up for Hannebery whose form has dropped off in the last two seasons.
His 18.6 possessions per game is the lowest since his debut season when he was still attending Xavier College in Melbourne.
Harley said negotiations may require the involvement of other players and other clubs.
“Dan is a contracted player (to 2021) so he’s not a free agent,” Harley said.
“It’s up to both parties as to what the deal looks like. It might be picks, it might be players and it might involve other clubs.”
Hannebery, who played the first of his 208 AFL games for Sydney while still undertaking Year 12 studies in Melbourne, suggested the trade request was “the hardest decision” he’s ever made.
“As disappointing as it is to leave such a close group of people, I think the time is right to head back home if an opportunity arises,” Hannebery said in a statement.
It has been suggested Hannebery’s departure will free up more money for Jake Lloyd who is yet to sign on for 2019, but Harley said the deals are independent.
“They are isolated,” Harley said.
“Dan’s situation has only transpired in the last 24 hours. Conversations with Jake have been going for a lot longer. I spoke to Jake yesterday and his manager Alex McDonald knows where we sit and he comes back from leave on Monday. I’m as confident as I can be that the deal will get done.”
Rohan, who has played 106 games for Sydney, but just 11 this season because of form and fitness woes, called playing under Longmire and Paul Roos “the best experience” of his life. “It’s a great club, I’ve made friends I’ll have for a lifetime,” Rohan said. “I’ve got a young family now and it’ll be really important for my family to be closer to home.”
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