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Swans football manager Tom Harley says recent conversations between the club and the AFL had been ‘fruitful’.
Sydney appear certain to win a running battle with the AFL to be allowed to compete during next month’s player-exchange period on a level close to equal footing with all other clubs.
The Swans have argued their case has changed dramatically since they were banned from trading at the end of last year and they may now be allowed to trade in a player worth $500,000 a year.
The league continues to warm to Sydney’s case for a more dominant hand during this year’s trade period after constant lobbying by the Swans’ heavy hitters.
Sydney had fallen foul of the AFL after being accused of using the controversial Cost of Living Allownace to sign big-name players.
The Sydney push has been led by chief executive Andrew Ireland, chairman Andrew Pridham and general manager of football operations Tom Harley who have gone a long way to convincing the league they need the ability to draft high-profile players.
Sydney have argued they look certain to lose a well-paid, highly regarded player and might yet retain a player they had not budgeted for in next year’s salary cap. These unexpected changes in circumstances have strengthened the club’s case for a more potent role at the trading table.
As reported exclusively in The Australian last month, Lewis Jetta will play with West Coast next year. The out-of-contract Swans runner will formally make his request for a trade official once Sydney’s finals campaign is over.
The Swans are also keen to secure another ruckman and have identified Brisbane’s Matthew Leuenberger, a free agent, as a target because of the ongoing fitness concerns of big man Mike Pyke.
Leuenberger’s management yesterday confirmed to The Australian that apart from the Swans, he will also be dealing with Essendon and Fremantle.
The decision to water down the restriction will be made by the AFL executive, who will then inform the commission.
Harley yesterday told The Australian that recent conversations between the Swans and the AFL had been “fruitfulâ€.
In a three-pronged lobby by Sydney, Harley has been negotiating with AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon, Ireland has been in constant dialogue with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and Pridham has been putting pressure on AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.
“There’s no formal changes to the restrictions at the moment,†Harley said.
While Harley said his department was “operating as usualâ€, Sydney are optimistic they will be notified of a compromise as early as this week.
The rule change appears certain to put Sydney in the market for a player likely to draw as much as an annual salary of $500,000. As well it will ease pressure on their salary cap by allowing them to retain a player who has surprised the club with his desire to play on, either Adam Goodes or Ted Richards.
The decision by Sydney to lure Kurt Tippett (at the end of 2012) and Lance Franklin (2013) to the club led to severe player trading restraints on the Swans.
The AFL Commission allowed Sydney (and the Giants) to meet existing contracts with Cost of Living Allowances — $800,000 this year and $600,000 for 2016 — but the Swans could not use that money to lure new players.
The restraint was seen as harsh and under constant pressure from the Swans, the league began reviewing the ruling for this year’s trade period. A further amendment was made earlier this year which allowed Sydney to recruit players whose contract was no more than the average player wage of $340,000.
Dillon said at the time: “The Sydney Swans have complied fully with the AFL’s rules, and the club has been in discussion with the AFL Commission and executive how it should be allowed to participate in trading during the phase-out process.
“The AFL is pleased that this outcome has been reached to the satisfaction of the club, the AFL and the Players’ Association.â€
However, Sydney argued that the most recent trading embargo compromise — a maximum spend of $349,000 — was not enough to compete for players they need to replenish their list.
It also has the potential to compromise other clubs such as Brisbane, who want the best deal possible — with remuneration and length of contract — for Leuenberger to receive the best free-agent compensation possible.
The Swans last month acknowledged they should have fought harder against the initial trade restrictions the league placed on them once the phasing out of their cost-of-living allowance was announced.