Home

AFL trades 2020: West Coast ruckman Tom Hickey traded to Sydney Swans in exchange for picks

Chris Robinson and Mark DuffieldThe West Australian
VideoWith just over a day to go until the trade deadline, clubs are scrambling to get deals done.

Tom Hickey has secured his switch to Sydney, with West Coast giving up their top pick at next month’s draft to get the deal done.

The Swans and Eagles engaged in a flurry of pick swaps to get the deal done late in today’s period.

West Coast sent picks in the second and third round of this year’s draft – currently Pick 34 and Pick 60 – while receiving Sydney’s third-round and fourth-round picks this year (currently 58 and 62), a future second-round pick that’s tied to Port Adelaide, and a future third-round pick.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

It means the Eagles are set to closely monitor the progress of the Power next year, with the 2021 ladder position of the reigning minor premiers to determine how high or low the pick lands in next year’s second round.

West Coast won’t have a selection in this year’s draft until Pick 58, followed by picks at 62 and 91.

The Game AFL 2024

MORE AFL:

Hickey had a year of a contract to run with the Eagles but will get a fresh three-year deal from the Swans.

His manager Peter Blucher made it clear that Hickey had been happy at the Eagles but the increased likelihood of playing senior football and the chance to be nearer his Queensland based family were keys to the decision to leave.

Eagles list manager Darren Glass said the decision to trade was a combination of acknowledging Hickey’s family-based wishes and also creating a strong draft hand next year.

“Although Tom was contracted for another season he came to the club and expressed a desire to be closer to family on the east coast, and believed he would find more opportunity to play at Sydney,” Glass said.

“We are accommodating him. Sydney obviously needed a ruck and have spoken to Tom so we are happy to facilitate the trade.”

“The idea around getting into futures was really something we wanted to do all along. We wanted to have a stronger hand in one draft because it gives you a few options to go up or down — to do a few different things.”

“We have a pretty weak hand in this year’s draft anyway given the stuff we moved for Tim Kelly. We were happy to have a stronger hand next year.”

Hickey secured the trade to his fourth AFL club, after stops at Gold Coast and St Kilda before his two-year stint at the Eagles.

The 29-year-old mustered just three senior opportunities this year, falling out of the frame due to Nic Naitanui’s spectacular form.

Tom Hickey of the Eagles celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL Semi Final.
Camera IconTom Hickey of the Eagles celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL Semi Final. Credit: Quinn Rooney/via AFL Photos

Hickey will bolster a Swans ruck division that was crippled by injuries to Sam Naismith and Callum Sinclair at times in 2020.

“We’re excited to have secured Tom from West Coast as we think he is a great addition to our ruck group and we had targeted this as a priority during this year’s trade period,” Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said.

“Once Tom indicated a desire to return to the east coast to be closer to his family, we were very keen to get him to our club. We worked collaboratively with the West Coast Eagles to reach a mutually favourable outcome.

“Tom is a proven performer in the ruck at AFL level with a career spanning over 100 games across 10 seasons and we look forward to welcoming Tom, his wife Chloe and son Lou to Sydney.”

Should he hit the field, Hickey will become just the ninth player in the AFL era to play at least one game for four or more clubs.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails