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Sydney great Luke Parker has requested a trade to North Melbourne, the Swans announced on Wednesday morning.
A 2012 premiership champion, Parker is a veteran of 293 games in the red and white, kicking 213 goals from midfield.
The 31-year-old went on to play four more grand finals but lost them all, with the 2022 and 2024 defeats particularly ignominious.
“Coming to Sydney as a 19-year-old completely changed my life. Sydney became my home, I met my wife Kate here and the Swans became our family,” Parker said.
“The decision to part ways with the club after 14 years has been an extremely difficult choice, one I thought I’d never have to make. My most valued memories have been forged here, alongside a group of teammates who have become like brothers, and with fans who have shown me more love than I could have ever imagined deserving.
“The Sydney Swans will always hold a special place for my family and I.”
Parker may be one of a few Swans on the move as the fallout from the 60-point grand final drubbing continues at Moore Park.
Brisbane Lions premiership star Lachie Neale has avoided the need for surgery on his injured foot and is expected back in full training early next year.
Neale felt a “pop” during Brisbane’s grand final thumping of Sydney last Saturday and scans this week have revealed he tore the plantar fascia in his troublesome left foot.
But the dual Brownlow medallist will not require an operation, instead spending up to six weeks in a protective boot before working his way back into training.
Lachie Neale handballs while being tackled by Ryley Sanders and Adam Treloar. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“A conservative approach will be taken,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The scan results were positive news for Neale and the Lions, given this injury is generally a 12-week return to play.
“Neale’s recovery will include four to six weeks of non-weight bearing and wearing a moon boot.
“The Lions will then review Neale’s progress before looking to have him back running between six and eight weeks.
“The club expect Neale to be running when pre-season returns in November and then progress into full training after the Christmas break.”
Brisbane co-captain Neale starred in the premiership despite having to manage what the club has described as a “heel issue” for more than two months during the back half of the campaign.
The 31-year-old was a narrow runner-up to teammate Will Ashcroft for the Norm Smith Medal, voted second-best afield for his 34-disposal effort against the Swans.
Neale, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2020 and 2023, shapes a crucial contributor in the Lions’ bid to defend their flag in 2025.
Richmond’s president has taken a swipe at a departing quartet of premiership star as megastar Dustin Martin shuts down speculation of coming out of retirement.
Last month Martin met with Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick, his former mentor at Richmond, fuelling rumours the Tiger great was considering a move to Gold Coast.
Martin, who ended his decorated 302-game career in August, attended Richmond’s best and fairest function on Tuesday night.
“Happily retired,” he told Nine News in response to suggestions he was contemplating a comeback.
Three of four players who want to leave Richmond finished in the top five of the best and fairest, won by Daniel Rioli.
Tom Lynch of the Tigers celebrates a goal with Daniel Rioli. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Rioli, who wants to reunite with Hardwick at the Suns next season, polled 40 votes, while Liam Baker and Shai Bolton, who both want trades to Western Australia, tied for fifth with 30 votes each.
Dual premiership-winning midfielder Jack Graham is also leaving the Tigers, who finished last this season with just two wins.
Richmond president John O’Rourke took a thinly veiled swipe at the quartet by highlighting triple premiership player and Perth-born Nathan Broad, who won his second straight Francis Bourke Award for the person who best upholds the club’s trademark values.
O’Rourke lauded the loyalty of those staying at Richmond to guide “our young players through this next phase of growth”.
“Just by way of example … how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad,” O’Rourke told the function.
“I know through this year, I’m sure he could have explored options to see out his career in his home state or perhaps look for more lucrative options with other clubs.
“But he chose to extend for a further two years … what a Richmond man.”
Baker wants to join West Coast and their new coach Andrew McQualter, a former Richmond assistant who was interim coach for 13 games last season when Hardwick suddenly quit.
Bolton has also told the Tigers he wants a trade to WA – yet to publicly nominate a preferred destination, the 25-year-old has been linked with Fremantle.
After the Eagles announced McQualter’s appointment on a three-year deal on Monday, Baker and Graham were quick to state their intention of joining West Coast.
The Richmond function was attended by Rioli, Bolton, Baker and Graham despite their desire to leave the club, in contrast to St Kilda’s stance on Josh Battle.
Battle was told not the attend the Saints’ club champion function after signalling his intent to join Hawthorn.
While Graham can depart Richmond as a free agent, the Tigers will strike deals for Bolton, Baker and Rioli when the 10-day trade period opens on Monday.
The Tigers are understood to be eyeing Gold Coast’s pick six at the national draft in a deal for Rioli, who expressed his love for the club when collecting his club champion award.
“I love every single one of you in the room,” Rioli said.
The Perth-born Baker, who featured in Richmond’s 2019 and 2020 premierships, also told of his gratitude to the club.
“I appreciate everything the club has done for myself and my family over the years and this year … I can’t wait to support it and it’s going to be great looking from afar,” he said.
with AAP
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