Sydney Swans star heading for exit after brutal grand final loss

Things appear set to go from bad to worse for the Sydney Swans after their grand final defeat with one star set to depart for a new club.

Luke Parker’s time in a Sydney Swans guernsey may be over following the brutal grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions.

Parker, 31, was said to be “open” to a move out of New South Wales in early August, and in the wake of the club’s 10-goal loss a trade appears all but certain for the Swans veteran.

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Despite having a year to run on his contract, the belief is that Parker will end up pulling on a North Melbourne jumper in 2025.

“There is a belief in clubland that Luke Parker has likely played his last game for the Sydney Swans,” Tom Morris said on Channel 9’s Footy Furnace.

“Yet to be confirmed, of course that will happen this week I would imagine. But North Melbourne will be the club he will go to on a multi-year deal.

“Great for the Kangaroos, now he is contracted to the Swans so they do have the potential to say ‘no you’re not going anywhere’.

“But the Roos are very confident they can get him and other clubs are telling me the deal is all but done which is great news for North Melbourne.”

Parker is expected to be playing for a Victorian club in 2025. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Parker hasn’t had an entirely ideal campaign — hit with a six-week VFL suspension in May, which came after he had a delayed start to the season because of a fractured arm — but he will line up for the Swans in Saturday’s grand final.

The 31-year-old on Saturday played just his 10th senior game of this season — the lowest tally in his decorated career.

Parked kicked three goals after the 10-minute park of the final quarter, and finished with 14 disposals for the match.

Parker is the last remaining member of Sydney’s 2012 premiership side and is just seven matches shy of the 300-game milestone.

It was an ugly day out for the Swans. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Morris added even more troublesome news for Swans fans when he highlighted the future of star midfielder Chad Warner.

The 23-year-old was a revelation for the Swans throughout the season and comes out of contract following the 2025 season. It’s then that two clubs are expected to pounce.

“Chad Warner is a name I’ve put there not to scare Sydney Swans fans for this year … more so for 12 months time,” Morris said.

“I think there is going to be massive money offered to Chad Warner. I’m talking 10, 12, 14 million dollars across nine, 10 or 11 years.

“That’s the sort of money that is going to be thrown around for a player of Chad Warner’s calibre from the West Coast Eagles.

“The go home factor as well is real, even more real than the money that is offered.”

Warner put contract negotiations on hold with the Swans in June, stating he would make a call when the time came.

“I’m loving it over in Sydney and I guess that time will come where myself, Alice my girlfriend and all that want to decide whatever we want to do with the future,” Warner said.

Freo and the Eagles will go hard for Chad Warner. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

The Herald Sun’s Jay Clark detailed the Dockers interest in Warner and said their huge 2024 draft hand of three first round picks could be pivotal in luring him home.

“There’s a big watch on his contract. We know he’s a WA boy and it does really seem that Fremantle is licking its lips at the prospect of getting Chad Warner,” Clark said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle in June.

“I mean, how do the Swans keep all their superstar midfielders, all their players - Blakey, Mills, Heeney, Gulden and Warner, who’s not far off the No.1 player in the game right now.

“Fremantle have got three first round picks in this year’s draft. What they could do, and you’ve got to keep an eye on this at trade time, if they trade one, two or potentially even three of their current picks into next year’s draft, that gives them the war chest of picks.

“At least potentially two first-round draft picks to go to Sydney, pay Warner $1.5 to $1.6 million a year, satisfy Sydney with the two first rounders and Warner gets to come home.

“I think we’ll see them flag their intentions in this trade period, whether they shuffle back at least one or maybe two of those first-round picks.”

As they continue to pick up the pieces following their devastating grand final loss, the Swans could be in for a busy time during the upcoming trade period.

Originally published as Sydney Swans star heading for exit after brutal grand final loss