Sydney have moved quickly to quash growing rumours that key players James Rowbottom and Will Hayward could be part of a trade package to lure Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow.
The chatter intensified in recent days as the Swans reportedly explored options to bring the Coleman Medallist north, but list boss Chris Keane has made it clear that both Rowbottom and Hayward are staying put.
“Will Hayward is contracted for four more years, and he will see out that contract. There is not much in those rumours to be honest,” Keane told AFL Trade Radio.
“We have had no indication about James Rowbottom wanting to leave. Contracted for three more years, we expect him to be here for that period.”
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Rowbottom, who captained the side temporarily during Callum Mills’ injury layoff and led the AFL in tackles this year, had become the unlikely subject of trade whispers as part of Sydney’s bold pursuit of Curnow.
Keane, however, reiterated the club’s confidence in its core players while acknowledging the uncertainty of trade season. “A lot of our players are contracted and happy in Sydney,” he said.
“At the same time, our view is we’ll put forward some options that we think make sense for both parties. At the end of the day, it’s up to Carlton to determine if it’s good enough.”
He added that any potential move for Curnow must be “mutually beneficial,” signalling that Sydney won’t sacrifice its key personnel to make the blockbuster trade happen.