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Sydney Swans trade in fringe Cat Thurlow

Sydney have settled on Geelong's Jackson Thurlow as the recruit to boost their defensive depth after missing out on a couple of in-demand targets during AFL trade period.

The Swans parted with pick No.70 to sign Thurlow on the final day of trade period.

Thurlow played a total of 17 games during the past two seasons, having missed the Cats' entire 2016 campaign because of a knee reconstruction.

Swans football manager Tom Harley is confident the fringe Cat, who was taken with Geelong's first pick in the 2012 draft (No.16 overall), will find his feet at the SCG.

"At 24 years old, we think Jackson has a lot of good football ahead of him and will be a great addition to our defensive group," Harley said.

"Jackson's a great kick. He's quick and damaging off a half-back flank and on the wing, and he's a great character."

Trading out vice-captain Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan was Sydney's most pressing issue during the past fortnight.

However, the Swans have also been actively hunting defenders that could ensure speedster Zak Jones and 2016 Rising Star winner Callum Mills are free to play more minutes in the midfield next year.

The Swans recently missed out on Collingwood's Tom Langdon, who opted to sign a contract extension after strongly considering a move to Sydney, and Darcy Moore plus Hawthorn's two-time premiership winner Taylor Duryea, who instead joined Western Bulldogs.

Sydney, who essentially traded Rohan for North Melbourne's Ryan Clarke last week, also unsuccessfully pursued Melbourne hard nut Aaron vandenBerg during the trade period.