Versatile Swans gun Jordan Dawson is set to return to his home state of South Australia this off-season as a product of the salary strain currently impacting Sydney.
Hailing from Kingston, Dawson joined the Swans after rising through the ranks at Sturt in the SANFL and was taken with the 56th overall selection in the 2015 National Draft.
Across six seasons in the Harbour City, Dawson's slow build under John Longmire has seen him thrive across multiple lines for the Swans, featuring in attack, out of defence and through the midfield.
A breakout season in 2019 saw Dawson move from a five-game player to a regular in the Swans' squad, with his latest campaign for the Bloods having him earn a podium finish in their best and fairest count.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Three consecutive seasons of valuable work under Longmire now look to conclude as Dawson now aims to return to South Australia, with the 24-year-old and the Swans unable to find agreed terms on an extension.
With a move interstate now imminent, the attention is quickly placed on the Crows and Power as to which club is the better suitor for Dawson, and which side can offer the greater trade package in exchange to lure his services.
The Crows have made their list calls clear already this off-season, cutting off veteran talent in the likes of Daniel Talia and Tom Lynch in order to make room for younger names.
Adelaide will be unfortunate enough to see defender Jake Kelly head home to Victoria as the trade window manages to take as much as it gives.
Should Dawson look to find the best deal possible at his next landing spot, the Crows are likely to have the money to spend given the aforementioned exits of Kelly, Talia and Lynch.
As well as their financial backing, the Crows' draft hand sees the West Lakes club carrying picks 4, 23, 37, 59, 63ย into the exchange window, with it widely assumed their first-round selection is off the cards.
So is Pick 23 enough to satisfy the Swans?
On the flip-side, the Power hold selections 16, 60, 70, 71ย - with their first-round pick more likely to be up for discussion given their presence in the premiership window.
With money tight, the Swans will only want to bolster their draft stocks, and it will be likely the Crows may have to part ways with multiple picks should they pursue Dawson.
Another key consideration is how the Robe product fits into each squad.
Kelly's pending exit from Adelaide is sure to leave a void in the Crows' defence, a role Dawson is familiar and fitting to.
Moving further up the ground, Dawson could join the likes of Rory Laird, Ben Keays, Matt Crouch and Paul Seedsman to create a galvanising midfield ensemble.
A wing pairing of Dawson and Seedsman would be rated as arguably the best in the competition, however a venture to Alberton Oval would do more than just confirm the league's best wingspan.
A combination of Karl Amon and Dawson would compliment the all-star engine room of Oliver Wines and Travis Boak, however it could hinder the development of young guns Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma, who have found key minutes out wide at times this season.
The Power's already strong premiership contention could be a lure for Dawson, as well as the difference the Power have been after.
The Crows have the stronger draft hand to cater to the Swans' needs, however success may be more guaranteed in teal.
That's not to say the Crows aren't building toward a long-serving return to the top-eight, however the Power may throw everything they can to make the next jump in their hopes of adding a second AFL premiership and levelling their cross-town rivals.
