It's unlikely Sydney will be as active as they were last year in utilising trade and free agency levers to better their list, with the flag favourites having identified the needs and targets in 2023 that have lifted them into premiership contention.

With two first-round draft picks in hand there is sure to be some excitement through the off-season, with November's intake a great chance to add top-line young talent to their squad for the long term after adding Will Green and Caiden Cleary through the first-round last year.

But a look at how they can improve their list immediately through the player movement window might suggest some key defensive reinforcements could go a long way to support their premiership claim for the coming years.

Behind Tom McCartin and Lewis Melican, John Longmire's depth isn't as strong as everywhere else on the ground, with recruit Joel Hamling now utilised as a key forward at the lower level and ex-Bomber Aaron Francis struggling at times while 2023 Mid-Season Draft addition Harry Arnold has continued to face setbacks in his short time in the red and white.

So, considering the Swans' potential list needs, we've named five players Sydney could target in the off-season.

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2. James Borlase

A big-bodied backman, Borlase finds himself on the fringes of selection at Adelaide due to the Crows' reliance on key talls Jordon Butts, Mark Keane, Nick Murray and Josh Worrell in the senior side.

Borlase has shown some promise as an emerging key defender in his 13 games in the AFL, nine of which have come this year under Matthew Nicks.

A consistent run at the top level could do Borlase some good, as he is often thrown in and out of Adelaide's lineup as a reinforcement option rather than a cemented senior stalwart.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 19: Todd Goldstein of the Bombers competes with James Borlase of the Crows during the 2024 AFL Round 06 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at Adelaide Oval on April 19, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Given that the club delisted and re-listed him last year, the 22-year-old is eligible for free agency, making him a cheap recruit option for the Swans to consider.