Where's the club at?
Few clubs will undergo as much off-season change as the Swans. Their list overhaul will be driven largely by the departure of six premiership players, including forwards Barry Hall and Michael O’Loughlin, while Irishman Brendan Murphy has decided to follow short-term international rookie Kyle Coney back home. That makes six senior berths and two rookie positions available before the football department considers wielding the axe.

Persistent injuries to key players and Hall’s midseason departure meant the Swans were able to expose several of their young players to senior football and that looks to be the trend for coming seasons as the club plots its return to September action.

Who they've lost
Nic Fosdike (ret.)
Tadhg Kennelly
Barry Hall
Michael O’Loughlin (ret.)
Leo Barry (ret.)
Jared Crouch (ret.)
Brendan Murphy (ret.)

What they need
There has never been any question about the hardness of the Swans’ midfield but with the impending move of Adam Goodes to the forward line, an injection of pace could be handy. Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe aren’t the quickest trio around and what Nick Smith, Kieren Jack and Matt O’Dwyer add in speed, they lack in experience.

Quick, skilled mids are always thin on the ground but the Swans could opt to move Rhyce Shaw into the midfield and cover his role in defence – where a player like Tadhg Kennelly would be more than handy.

Mike Pyke showed some promising signs as Darren Jolly’s understudy in the ruck but another experienced big man would be ideal as Pyke, Daniel Currie and Jake Orreal continue their development. Jesse White’s successful move into attack has further reduced the Swans’ ruck stocks.

The departures of Hall and O’Loughlin have left the Swans without an established key forward. While Goodes and youngsters White and Lewis Johnston have talent in spades, none has spent more than short periods as a key target at senior level. If the Swans can land a capable big forward, they’ll be all the more dangerous in 2010.

Tradeable commodities
Given the mass exodus in 2009, the Swans don’t face the need to make any forced changes to the list. However, that doesn’t mean some of their senior players won’t be targeted by other clubs.

Nick Malceski has endured a miserable two years of form since undergoing radical knee surgery at the start of 2008 and he could be attractive to clubs wanting a skilled flanker or wingman. Similarly, Ed Barlow has struggled to cement his place in the side and his rare combination of size and athleticism should pique the interest of other clubs.

Premiership players Amon Buchanan, Luke Ablett and Paul Bevan all suffered form slumps at various stages of the season. With the Swans favouring their younger brigade in the second half of the year, it remains to be seen whether all three of the experienced, strong-bodied utilities fit into Paul Roos’ plans for 2010.

What the club says
“If [a marquee player] fell out at the end of trade week, clearly we’ve got enough room in our salary cap to be able to do something in the pre-season. But at this stage, like most clubs, we’re trying to work through who’s available and who’s not available. As it stands now, it’s unlikely… but you never say never.” – senior coach Paul Roos.

Crystal ball trades
Roos has already committed to trading Barry Hall to his preferred club but some conjecture has arisen about the 32-year-old’s value. The Swans reportedly want a second round pick from the Western Bulldogs (pick No.31), who have only offered a fourth rounder (pick No.63) at this stage. An exchange of third round picks (the Swans’ No.38 for the Dogs’ No.47) to soften the blow of the Dogs losing their second rounder might do the trick.

Apart from Hall, the Swans have been linked to just about every name that has arisen in the lead-up to trade week. The strongest rumours include disgruntled Eagle Mark Seaby moving to the harbour city, while restless Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett – who has also met with the Brisbane Lions – appears a reasonable solution to the Swans’ need for speed.

Finally, the Swans have ruled themselves out of contention for Carlton’s controversial Coleman medallist Brendan Fevola. They looked to be a good fit for trade week’s biggest potential mover but Roos has said the club’s commitment to using its first round draft selection meant any discussions with Carlton would be a waste of time.

Rate your list, the year that was, and more – The Offseason: Sydney Swans

The 2009 AFL exchange period runs from October 5-9. No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Friday, October 9.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL