Sydney forward Tom Papley in high demand from Victorian clubs
Carlton is among a host of Victorian clubs eager to pry Sydney forward Tom Papley back home, with the rising star reportedly flagging an interest in returning for family reasons.
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Victorian clubs will try to pull off an audacious poaching raid on Sydney hard nut Tom Papley at season’s end.
Clubs are aware that Papley, 23, has flagged an interest in returning to Victoria for family reasons after four seasons with the Swans.
But there are no guarantees a trade will be struck this year as the exciting goalkicker remains contracted to Sydney for one more season.
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The Swans believe Papley is a crucial pillar in their list rebuild and a potential leader.
They are determined to keep the former rookie-listed forward, who has booted 27 goals from 16 games this year.
He slotted bags of four against Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne and nailed five goals in the SCG win against West Coast.
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But clubs including Carlton are expected to ramp up their inquiries in the lead-up to the October exchange period.
Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle has confirmed the club would be chasing a small forward in this year’s trade period and it is expected to zero in on Papley, who is from Bunyip.
Papley has excellent goal sense and can ramp up the defensive pressure.
He averages three tackles a game over his 76 senior matches.
Liddle said the Blues needed to bolster their small forward stocks to complement their gun young talls.
“Very clearly, we’ve got the makings of a once in a generation forward line through Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay,” Liddle said on the club’s podcast.
“We now need to do some work in terms of that small crumbing defensive forward.
“I think most Carlton supporters can see that, but we can be very targeted with that.”
Carlton was also linked to Port Adelaide small forward Sam Gray.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at season’s end.
Carlton poached Collingwood free agent Alex Fasolo at the end of last season, but the goalkicker has been unable to cement a senior berth.
Fasolo is out of contract at season’s end.
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