Sydney Swans play down link to star Bomber Joe Daniher
Sydney has played down any link to Joe Daniher after the Essendon star met with Swans boss Tom Harley, but the club hasn’t ruled out trying to make a splash in the off-season player market.
Sydney
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Sydney boss Tom Harley’s meeting with Joe Daniher last week was part of an ongoing relationship set up by GWS boss David Matthews eight years ago.
The Swans were adamant yesterday the meeting between Daniher was part of a personal relationship that sees the former Cats’ captain help with the Essendon star’s continued personal growth.
Harley did not want to comment publicly when contacted by The Herald Sun yesterday.
But the Swans privately made clear they will not chase Daniher despite him being out of contract in 2020.
Harley and Daniher have met semi-regularly to discuss each other’s careers, with Daniher’s off-field interests including a brewery and his involvement in a charity.
He spoke only this weekend of his excitement at running again in two weeks after being shut down for a second consecutive years with groin issues.
Daniher was in Sydney consulting his surgeon after groin surgery, with coach John Longmire playing down the meeting which Daniher had informed Essendon about.
“Look I don’t know all the details to be honest. It was just a catch up with Tom Harley who was a mentor of his from the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport). Joe was up here as I understand it, seeing a surgeon, so they caught up for a coffee,” said Longmire.
“I wouldn’t be reading too much into it other than the fact they had coffee. I think you’re allowed to, in this industry, catch up with people from other clubs.”
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Lance Franklin is contracted for another three years, while Nick Blakey is already showing exciting signs as a young tall forward.
The spate of high profile retirements at Sydney won’t necessarily clear the room the Swans would need to be big shoppers in an off-season player market frenzy.
Club greats Jarrad McVeigh and Heath Grundy have already announced their retirements, and there is heavy speculation Kieren Jack is set to follow them into the sunset.
The loss of that immense experience, and the fact Sydney are fielding the youngest list in football, suggests Sydney could benefit from the addition of some key pieces from the outside to truly launch themselves as finals contenders for 2020.
However, assuming the retirements will automatically free up the cash required is wrong and The Daily Telegraph understands other moves and changes would have to happen on Sydney’s list.
Last year’s off-season signings Daniel Menzel, Jackson Thurlow and Ryan Clark haven’t exactly set the world on fire and may not be on the most solid ground.
Longmire yesterday left the door open for Sydney to be active in what is anticipated to be a rampant off-season for trades and transfers.
“Look I’m not sure … the salary cap is very fluid in that regard,” said Longmire.
“At the end of the year you’re not sure with the current market what’s going to be available. So you have to be flexible and mindful of what’s going in.
“You have a bit of a plan, but you also have to be flexible and adaptable.
“We’ll sit down at the end of the year and work through those issues.
“Our main challenge at the moment and what we’re doing at the moment is setting up the team we’ve got in the best possible way. We think we’ve taken some steps forward.
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“We’re really confident in that younger group, really confident.
“It’s not just about setting this team up to move up the ladder next year. It’s actually about setting this team up to be another contender for a longer period of time. And they’re the decisions we’re making.”
Longmire said the positional mix and matching that’s gone on with the likes of Tom McCartin, Jordan Dawson and Ollie Florent is about trying to best crystal ball what the future of the team might look like and where there might be some holes that need filling.
Dane Rampe should return for Sydney this weekend against Port Adelaide, while a decision on if and when Lance Franklin returns in 2019 will be made late next week as the injured star continues his training.
Originally published as Sydney Swans play down link to star Bomber Joe Daniher
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