West Coast backman Tom Barass is seen as a chance to depart the Eagles amid interest from Sydney, who are looking to strengthen their backline in 2023.
Barrass is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, having penned a five-year extension at the back end of 2021 following reported interest from the Swans.
A member of the Eagles' premiership-winning side in 2018, Barrass is one of a few Eagles who currently hold significant trade value at a time where the club is looking to revamp its list and place its attention toward the future.
Sydney would be a fitting suitor for the 27-year-old, with the New South Wales side in need of defensive reinforcements amid a year of ongoing injury concerns to their rearguard.
The Swans are also currently equipped with Pick 6 for this year's National Draft given their place among the bottom third on the ladder, with that selection potentially tempting West Coast to help their own list plans.
Sydney could instead look to target free agents Harry Himmelberg, Ben McKay or Tom Doedee and not part ways with their opening pick, however competition for those signatures will be high.
Speaking on theย Tradies Podcast,ย AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed murmurs surrounding Barrass' future at West Coast were increasing, with a belief arising that the premiership defender is more likely to leave the Eagles than stay.
The situation that surrounds Barrass has led to other clubs signalling the Swans as a club chasing the Claremont product.
"Tom Barrass, we spoke about him five or six weeks ago about how he'll be a player in demand and a player that other clubs will begin to circle. He's at a team that's dropping down the ladder more and more, he's got four years left on his contract," Cleary began.
"Other clubs are often a good gauge in these scenarios, and when I've been ringing about (Tom) Doedee, Ben McKay, Harry Himmelberg, often the first thing that comes back is 'jeez, there's a but in that Tom Barrass stuff'. Keep your eyes firmly on Sydney.
"There was a bit of chat about him 18 months ago, there's a bit happening in this space. Right now, from everyone I've spoken to, I'd be more inclined to say he's leaving than staying.
"In this space, when people start to talk about a player like Tom Barrasss in this manner it usually says to me that something's happening.
"He's got a sister who lives in Sydney.
"(Sydney) threw the line out there a couple of years ago and the Swans' interest actually prompted the long-term extension at the Eagles at the time.
"He'd still have to request a trade, he's contract for four more years. There's still a lot to get through and the Swans could still land one of these free agents that they wouldn't have to pay anything for in terms of a draft pick.
"There's enough chatter around now where that this Barrass thing has gone from more of a whisper to there might be a bit in the market for him."
While Barrass could be held to his contract by the Eagles, West Coast currently have Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Jake Waterman and Alex Witherden, among others, unsigned for 2024.
