Sydney have set their sights on luring veteran Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams to the harbour town during the upcoming trade period.
The contracted Adams missed the 2023 premiership after suffering a hamstring injury at training in the lead-up to the preliminary final.
Taylor Adams hugs captain Darcy Moore moments after Collingwood’s premiership win.Credit: Getty Images
He was in tears after the game as he celebrated the wins with teammates and officials having been one of Collingwood’s best in their heartbreaking defeat in 2018.
Adams will face an agonising decision whether he wants to take up a longer-term deal to play elsewhere, where he would be a permanent midfielder, or remain at the Magpies where he has one year of his contract to run.
Industry sources with knowledge of the circumstances, but who are not authorised to speak publicly, said the decision for Adams was not related to the injury or the way the season finished but whether a move could benefit all parties involved.
Collingwood only recently became aware that it was a possibility and would be comfortable having a conversation with Adams about what a move might mean. However, the Magpies’ official line is that he is a contracted and required player.
He spent most of 2023 playing in tandem with Tom Mitchell as a pressure forward and in and under midfielder before his poorly timed injury.
Adams, who has played 175 games with the Magpies after spending two years living in Sydney when he played 31 games with the Giants at the start of his career, recently turned 30 and could see the opportunity as a chance to extend his career.
However, as Collingwood vice captain with a deep affection for the Magpies he would need to weigh up whether he was prepared to make the move.
A heart-and-soul player at the Magpies, he earned a reputation as a big-game player and matured into an outstanding leader at the club, winning the Magpies’ best and fairest in 2020.
Veteran Luke Parker has had to carry a heavy midfield load at the Swans who have a raft of talented young midfielders emerging as they shoot for a premiership under John Longmire.
They have already secured Melbourne premiership midfielder James Jordon and will recruit Brodie Grundy during the trade period.
Sydney have picks 11, 23, 31 and 42 in this year’s national draft but are expected to be active during the trade period.
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