Tom Papley's manager Winston Rous says that there will be challenges ahead for the forward after his trade request fell through.

Papley requested a move to Carlton, with personal reasons behind a return to Victoria, but was denied by Sydney where he is contracted for four more years.

Rous, from Phoenix Management, hopes that the 23-year-old can settle back into the Swans.

"I'm disappointed for Tom and the other players who didn't get to where they wanted to go. But that's the reality of what can happen when a player is contracted," Rous said to AFL.com.au.

"There are going to be some challenges ahead for Tom in the coming months, and we will look at ways in partnership with Sydney to support him.

"A lot has changed for Tom in the last 12 months since he extended his contract, and hopefully the next 12 months can see him back feeling more settled in Sydney."

Carlton and North Melbourne met with Papley but Carlton was deemed more likely to meet Sydney's demands. The Blues offered pick nine and a swap of later selections but the Swans were unable to reach an agreement for Essendon's Joe Daniher leaving Papley's move incomplete.

Rous said he tried to keep Daniher's trade separate to Papley's unsuccessfully.

"They made their position clear all the way along, and as a contracted player we understood all the possible outcomes and they had an understanding of his circumstances and were willing to assist if they could get Joe Daniher," he said.

"We wanted the deal to be looked at independent of the Daniher deal but it was made clear that in the last 24-48 hours before the deadline that wouldn't be the case."

Papley joined Gold Coast midfielder Jack Martin as deals that Carlton couldn't complete on the last day of the trade period. But where the Blues could get Martin through the national or pre-season draft, a move for Papley will have to wait until next year.

Rous commended Carlton on their commitment to completing a deal.

"I couldn't fault Carlton, they were transparent when the process started on the lengths they would go to in order to get a trade done for Tom and understood the challenges given the high value that Sydney placed on him," he said.

"They couldn't have done any more."