Sydney announced five delistings last week, with Michael Knoll, Jack Maibaum, Harry Reynolds, Brady Rowles and Ryley Stoddart moved on.
However, the last of those players caught the eye of veteran recruiter Matt Rendell, who rated Stoddart highly.
The young Swan played six games after being selected with pick 53 in the 2017 National Draft and Rendell believes he is a casualty of the inevitable COVID-19-related list shrinking.
“That surprised me a bit. I actually had him on my list of the best young kids, and then I saw that he was on the delisted list,” Rendell told AFL Trade Radio.
“That shocked me a bit, because he played good enough footy I thought at stages. He’s still a slim, skinny kid.
“I thought he probably deserved another year, but you’re going to find a bit of this this year because clubs are reducing their lists, so some players have got to go.
“I wouldn’t be writing him off, they might take him back, but clubs don’t know how many they’re allowed to have on their list.
“They’ve got to allow for (Sydney Academy players) Braeden Campbell and Errol Gulden to come in and their pick three, so they’re probably thinking we’re going to take three or four in the draft.
“But if they’ve got a spot left after the draft maybe they take him back and give him another chance.
“You’re going to find that a few good players drop off because clubs have to cut their list by at least probably eight players.”
Rendell believes Campbell, who has already committed to the Swans in the draft, might be the best kick he’s seen coming through the underage system.
“Campbell is a local player, I think he’s probably the best kick I’ve seen in the draft ever. He is a magnificent left foot kick. It is poetry in motion. He can kick it 60 low and hard,” he said.
“He’ll play on the wing for them next year. He’s going to be a great player for them.
“Gulden is a smaller midfielder, another left footer, doesn’t kick it as good, but he’s a good player. They’re going to get two really good local players in the draft.”