Sydney star Lewis Jetta will not find a smooth passage back to Western Australia if he decides to head home without the AFL lifting its controversial trade restrictions on the club.

Jetta is not a free agent so can only leave via a trade or run the gauntlet of the pre-season draft, where Fremantle and West Coast are likely to be low down the pecking order.

Bound: Swans star Lewis Jetta will find it difficult to head home to Western Australia. Credit:Chris Hyde

The Dockers and Eagles, ranked first and second respectively, are unlikely to have early enough draft picks to satisfy the Swans, who have a high opinion of their damaging speedster, without involving a third party.

A like for like trade will also be difficult given the Swans are only allowed to recruit players at or below the average wage, excluding first- and second-year players, of about $350,000. That cap cannot be lifted even if the club trades out a high-priced star.