Swans hope want-away Papley changes mind and stays

SYDNEY players will do everything in their power to convince Coleman Medal leading star Tom Papley to commit to the club long term.

Papley asked for a trade to Carlton last year for family reasons, and there is a prevailing feeling he still wants to return home to Victoria to play for a Melbourne club.

Reports on Friday suggested Carlton was going to be coming hard for him again this trade season.

But Swans teammate Will Hayward has hailed Papley’s growth into one of Sydney’s most influential leaders.

Papley leads the Coleman Medal race with Port’s Charlie Dixon (both on 15 goals) going into today’s clash with Hawthorn at the SCG.

“He’s a terrific leader as well, which might sometimes get swept under the rug about him,” Hayward said.

“He sees the game so well. He’s really smart.

“He’s absolutely one of the most important players on our team. We’re all praying he’ll stay, but it’s his decision and I’ll support him.

“But I hope that he’ll be a Swan next year and for a few more years after that.”

Papley, 24, might be a bit of a class clown, his leapfrog celebration over the head of Hayward last week against Gold Coast a case in point, but his teammates say it belies his elevation as a true leader among one of the AFL’s youngest lists.

“When he speaks everyone listens. He’ll always say something that makes perfect sense,” Hayward said.

“And he’ll help our really young players who might be struggling. He’ll go through and watch vision with them and tell them what running patterns he would do and stuff like that. He’s an absolute competitor.”

Players have respected the way he has ripped in this season, despite his initial disappointment at not being traded.

“He’s one of those guys you love to run out with. He’ll just go out and compete his absolute heart out. He’s one of those blokes that others love to play with,” Hayward said.