Sydney will not offer up their prized No. 4 draft pick in any deal involving Essendon's Joe Daniher.
The Swans are interested in Daniher as he contemplates his future at the Bombers despite being contracted at the club next year.
Daniher has played 11 games in the last two seasons because of on-going groin problems, but the forward has not yet gone to the Bombers seeking a trade.
Should Daniher seek a trade though, AFL.com.au understands that Sydney will not involve their No. 4 pick to secure a deal.
The Swans haven't had a top 10 pick in the last decade that hasn't been tied with their academy, with Gary Rohan at pick 6 in 2009 as the last for the Swans in that time.
The Swans have matched bids for Callum Mills (in 2015) and Nick Blakey (last year) inside the top-10, but haven't been active in the early stages of the draft in recent times and therefore have extra incentive to hold onto their pick heading into the draft.
In the last 20 years, Sydney have only picked two non-academy players with their top-10 selection, Gary Rohan (mentioned above) and Jarrad McVeigh (pick 5 in 2002).
Should the Swans not use their fourth pick for Daniher, that will almost certainly open the door for a Tom Papley exit.
Carlton and North Melbourne are chasing Papley as he ponders a move away from Sydney, with both clubs also holding top 10 selections respectively to offer up for the gun forward.
Should a deal for Papley take place, that could facilitate a move for Daniher using other selections and players should he seek a fresh start.
If Essendon were not pleased with any deal for Daniher, they would more than likely hold onto him for next year, but Daniher would have the ability to leave the club in free agency next year and Essendon would only receive a compensation pick in return should that take place.
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said this week that the Bombers were giving Daniher space to make a decision on his future.
"I probably expect him to be playing at Essendon next year, but we're just going through a process now and we'll have another discussion with Joe next week," he said.
