Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson says that Tom Barrass’ camp approached the club about a potential trade earlier this season.
While Barrass is contracted until the end of 2026, he was linked to a move away as the Eagles enter a rebuild and try and load up at the draft.
Following those reports, SEN WA’s Tim Gossage revealed that Barrass told West Coast last week that he wanted to stay at the club and remain central to the club’s plans.
Channel Seven’s Mitch Cleary found it interesting that Barrass decided to stay at the Eagles after his management initiated potential trade talks.
Cleary was also asked whether it would have been better for West Coast if Barrass pushed for a trade given what they could get back in a trade.
“Potentially (it would have been better for West Coast), but then you look at the backline with (Jeremy) McGovern, there's not much else there and McGovern has barely played this year,” Cleary told SEN.
“If (Ben) McKay leaves North Melbourne, they (Sydney) are left pretty thin.
“I was interested to see on AFL.com.au yesterday, Sydney's list manager Kinnear Beatson said it was actually the Barrass camp that approached them the second time around this year.
“The Swans went hard at Barrass a couple of years ago, but that fell flat.
“This time around they got a call from Barrass’ manager, Nick Gieschen saying, ‘Hey, you should have a look at Tom again’, three or four years later.
“It’s interesting now that he then decides to stay at the Eagles.”
While Barrass supposedly wants to stay in Perth, Cleary isn’t 100 per cent sure that he’ll be an Eagle in 2024 yet given the defender has already changed his mind about a potential Sydney move once this year.
“I’m still not putting a line through it,” Cleary said.
“I know that people might laugh at that thinking, ‘Oh, there’s been strong reports that he’s staying’.
“I haven’t heard that out of Tom Barrass’ mouth yet and it’s still eight weeks between now and the end of the trade period.
“Dayne Beams once said at a Brisbane best and fairest that he wanted to stay at the Lions, and he gave an emotional speech and then he requested a trade four days later and he was back wearing black and white.
“So, I don’t know, I never say never.
“Tom Barrass has changed his heart once.
“Can he change his heart again to go back to having his mind twisted by Sydney? Who knows?”
Barrass has played 132 games for the Eagles since making his debut in 2015. The key defender won the club’s best and fairest last season.
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