The struggling Sydney Swans have emphatically declared they will not be seeking a priority pick ahead of the upcoming NAB AFL draft, despite being locked in a downward spiral that has league officials genuinely concerned for the club’s future.

“Yeah it’s true, Gillon phoned me last night,” said coach John Lomgmire, confirming the AFL had indeed offered the club draft concessions as they slid to a disastrous ninth place on the ladder, inconceivably faced with missing the finals for the first since 2009.

“But we’re a proud club and we got ourselves into this situation, we are determined to fight our way out of it,” Longmire continued. “If they want to bring back the Cost of Living Allowance or give us some new talent academies, however, now that is something we’d consider.”

More to come.