SYDNEY veterans Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan are set to continue their careers in Victoria next season after requesting to be traded back to their home state, but the club has laughed off speculation surrounding the future of vice-captain Luke Parker.
St Kilda has confirmed its interest in Hannebery's services, with Geelong in the market to acquire Rohan.
Swans head of football Tom Harley confirmed the pair have played their last games for the club, despite the fact that Hannebery's deal isn't due to expire until the end of 2021, while Rohan is contracted until the end of 2020.
While Sydney will work to find new homes for Hannebery and Rohan, Harley moved to quickly shut down any talk about Parker, the reigning club champion, also leaving the Swans.
"I was very surprised to hear about trade rumours regarding Luke Parker," he said.
"I can unequivocally deny those rumours, we've spoken to Luke on Wednesday and he's fully invested with the Swans and we won't be trading him under any circumstances at all."
Harley said the Swans will attempt to do the best deal for club and players in next month's Trade Period.
"We understand Dan and Gary’s reasons for exploring a move home to a Victorian club to be closer to family," he said.
"Both Dan and Gary have separate and unique circumstances for wanting to explore going home and as a club we are mindful and respectful of those circumstances.
"As a result, we are open to exploring a trade for the pair at next month’s Trade Period and will look to secure the best result for the club."
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Saints general manager of football Simon Lethlean said Hannebery would add plenty to their team.
"We believe Dan has the capacity to be an extremely influential player for us at the Saints," Lethlean said.
"Dan is a highly credentialed premiership player with significant finals experience.
"He is also hugely respected for the standards he sets on the track and has been an important leader at the Swans for many years.
"All of these attributes are really appealing to us and would add to our group."
Lethlean said it would have to be the "right deal" for the Saints.
"We will be really thorough in our due diligence and make sure the appropriate medical screenings are completed.
"We also have to work through what a possible trade looks like with the Sydney Swans and ensure it is the right deal for St Kilda.
"The AFL Trade Period doesn’t begin until Monday 8 October, so there is still a long way to go."
One of the Swans' modern-day stars, Hannebery is a three-time All Australian and played a key role in the club's 2012 premiership win over Hawthorn.
His career tally of 106 Brownlow medal votes places him sixth all-time at Sydney/South Melbourne, with the gun wingman finishing fifth in 2015, and equal sixth in 2013 and 2016.
The 27-year-old has struggled to produce his best form over the past two seasons because of injury, but played 208 games over 10 years and said making the call to leave the Swans was not an easy decision.
"I absolutely love this football club, I walked in here as a 17-year-old and was lucky enough to learn from some of the best leaders and players in the AFL," he said.
"I’ve made life-long friends and will never forget what we’ve been through over the years.
"John Longmire, along with the senior players, current and past, never stopped showing me the way and I’m forever grateful for having such great people and influences throughout the 10 years.
"It has been the hardest decision I’ve had to make to date, especially with so many close friends, and as disappointing as it is to leave such a close group of people, I think the time is right to head back home if an opportunity arises during the Trade Period."
Rohan is an immensely popular figure at Sydney but has been plagued by injury since making his debut with the club in 2010.
He's had a tragic year off the field after losing one of his newborn twin daughters in April, and said he's decided to take his family back to Victoria.
"I’m so grateful that the Swans drafted me to Sydney in 2009 and to spend the past 10 years here playing under coaches Paul Roos and John Longmire has been the best experience of my life," he said.
"It’s a great club, I’ve made friends I’ll have for a lifetime and the support from all coaches, staff and my teammates over the years has been unbelievable.
"I’ve got a young family now and it’ll be really important for my family to be closer to home and if an opportunity comes up during the Trade Period I look forward to taking it and the next chapter of my life."
Star defender Jake Lloyd remains without a new deal in place beyond this season, and has attracted plenty of interest from opposition clubs, but Harley is confident the 2018 All Australian nominee will be a Swan next year.
"The conversations are ongoing between the club and Jake personally, and with his manager," he said.
"They're fruitful conversations, there's no animosity or angst (between the parties), and we're really hopeful of getting a deal done with Jake."
