Jordan Dawson is a “huge loss” for Sydney as he’s “on the cusp” of becoming an All-Australian player, according to Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy.
The wantaway Swan has requested a trade home to South Australia with the Adelaide Crows his preferred destination.
Sydney CEO Tom Harley told Sportsday the club wants a “fair and equitable” trade for the 24-year-old, who finished third in the best and fairest after a career-best 2021 season.
The Crows currently hold picks 4, 23, 37, 44, 62 and 66 in this year's draft.
“Dawson is a huge loss,” ex-Swan Healy said on Sportsday.
“Dawson is on the cusp of becoming an All-Australian player. He was top five in their best and fairest and was a significant part of any premiership hopes they would have had for the next year or two.
“It makes it a lot more difficult (to win the premiership) when you’re losing a top five in your best and fairest who delivers the ball as well as he does.
“He intercepts the ball, he can play on the wing, he can play up forward, he can play half-back – he’s a very, very good player.”
Selected with pick No.56 in the 2015 National Draft, Dawson has played 64 games for the Swans.
Healy also expects top five draft pick Dylan Stephens to spend more time as an inside midfielder next season.
“I think Stephens sees himself as an inside and outside mid,” Healy said.
“They had him pencilled in as a wingman – and quite bluntly he’s been disappointing. I’ve followed him closely, but he’s been disappointing.
“He thinks he needs to get inside time, and I think they’ve promised him some inside time, so he’ll get the opportunity.”
Stephens, 20, signed a two-year contract extension in September.
The South Australian made seven senior appearances this season, taking his career tally to 15 across two years with the Swans.