Sydney are set to be one of the busiest clubs this off-season.
The Swans’ season came to an end after losing to Carlton in Friday night’s Elimination Final and SEN’s Tom Morris expects them to get to work immediately looking ahead to 2024.
With Tom Hickey playing his last game in the Carlton loss, Morris says the Swans are desperate for a ruckman and are certainly interested in Melbourne’s Brodie Grundy.
While the Swans haven’t revealed whether they’ve met with Grundy like Port Adelaide has, he says no one has denied if a meeting has taken place between club and trade target.
“They're going to be busy,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“They are desperate for a ruck to replace Tom Hickey and a key defender.
“Brodie Grundy is absolutely one that they're looking at. You asked Tom Harley the question last week, ‘Did they meet with Brodie Grundy the week before?’. He gave a non-committal answer.
“I've asked the football boss Charlie Gardiner. I've asked his manager Robert D’Orazio and there's been no denials.
“So, I can't confirm they've met Brodie Grundy. But at the moment, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.
“They're certainly interested in Brodie Grundy.”
Another tall Sydney are interested in is North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay.
The Swans are among multiple clubs chasing the 25-year-old which will inevitably drive up his price.
“They're also certainly interested in Ben McKay,” Morris said.
“But as are Essendon as are Hawthorn.
“That means that Ben McKay is going to be seriously well paid as well, because no matter what his price is going up and it means North Melbourne will probably get compensation at pick three, which is after their pick.”
One Swan that could be on the way out is former top five draft pick Dylan Stephens.
The South Australian is out of contract and Morris says rival clubs feel he will push for a trade with North Melbourne among those interested.
“It’s decision time for Dylan Stephens who was pick five in the 2019 draft,” Morris said.
“He's played 40 odd games. The Swans have had a deal in front of him for a number of weeks.
“Now he'll have his exit meeting this week, North Melbourne is interested.
“There is a feeling around club-land that he's going to look to go elsewhere, but he hasn't confirmed that yet.
“The Swans don't know what he's going to do yet.”
The 2023 AFL Trade Period commences on Monday October 9 and ends on Wednesday October 18.
The free agency period begins on Friday October 6 and runs until Friday October 13.