Sydney Cox Dean Cox admits letting go of two popular members of the Swans playing group to make way for the incoming Charlie Curnow was tough.
Will Hayward and Ollie Florent played in two grand finals each in the red and white after joining the Swans in the 2017 draft.
"They were tough. I won't shy away from that," Cox said of the trade calls.
"They were very tough to do, given the service they've given the football club. One thing we did as a football club was be as open and as honest as we possibly could.
"Both Ollie and Will, 184 games each, have been amazing servants of this football club, and we wish them the best at Carlton for the rest of their careers."
Dual Coleman medallist Curnow becomes the latest in a long lineage of 'rockstar' key forwards to defect to the Harbour City club in a coup for the Swans and a vote of confidence in the side's direction under soon-to-be second-year coach Cox.
"I think it's something that we've been chasing for a while, somebody of Charlie's calibre wanting to come to the footy club. From there, our due diligence and ability to get that deal done is really strong for the football club," Cox said.
"In the end it was bittersweet. It was great to get Charlie, but also losing (sic) a couple of great people along the way as well. As a footy club, we need to make sure that we continually get better, and we thought Charlie was a real strong person to be able to do that."
Curnow's defection brings with it high expectations of his own performance, and that of his new side, but the Swans are embracing that noise.
"So they should be," Cox said of these expectations.
Long-tenured veterans Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd will remain at the club for at least another year, with Cox offering that official confirmation is expected in the coming days.
