Swans back hard-line policy despite missing out on Daniher
SYDNEY chief executive Tom Harley insists the Swans have no regrets over their handling of the aborted Joe Daniher deal despite failing to land their key trade target in October.
As Daniher continues his rehabilitation from groin surgery the restricted free agent can now move to the Swans more easily if he again requests a move up north at season’s end.
Some Melbourne critics believe the Swans had to land their target at any cost given they had been so public in chasing the Essendon spearhead. But Harley said Sydney had to do what was best for its own list in a deal where the Swans point-blank refused to give up quality players or pick five in exchange.
Asked about Sydney’s obligation to get a deal done, Harley said: “That is the commentary?
“I think the responsibility of office bearers of clubs is to do the right thing by the club. I sit really comfortable with the way we handled that. I am not accountable to anyone other than the board and supporters.
“We put what we thought was a compelling offer to Essendon and totally understand why (it didn’t happen).
“Essendon didn’t do the deal. It’s a two-way economy when it comes to trades and if there is a view that we weren’t in it enough, I don’t lose any sleep over it.
“The added layers in the Joe situation was clearly a relationship that I had with him.
“I am very comfortable we did the right thing and as long as I and other decision makers at the footy club put this club first you can’t go too far wrong.”
Sydney’s bottom line was that it could not lose star small forward Tom Papley for a player not certain to play in 2020, but the Swans were expected to chase Daniher hard again.
Papley is contracted to 2023 despite homesickness and some family issues back in Melbourne but Harley made clear the Swans believe he could stay as a one-club player.
“We absolutely respect the position Tom was in last year and without going into specifics, Tom respects the position we took as well. We pride ourselves on the way we look after players,” Harley said.
“He is in a good physical and mental space to have a strong year. What we expect from him is he gives it everything. He is a contracted player for another three years and we expect him to play for us for the next three years at least.
“From what I have seen he has had a really strong pre-season. He has kicked nine goals in two games and one of them was a state game and I think his footy is going OK. That’s a credit to him. It was clearly a tumultuous period leading up to the trade period and he fronted from day one and from what I read the playing group spoke about it from day one.”
ESSENDON DIDN’T DO THE DEAL. IT’S A TWO-WAY ECONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO TRADES.
TOM HARLEY