The Sydney Swans have announced long-time recruiting guru Kinnear Beatson will step down from the club’s list management team after the upcoming AFL trade period.
Beatson has been at the Swans for more than two decades, responsible for driving draft hauls and their biggest trade coups.
He stepped back from his role as list boss in recent years and currently serves as the club’s recruiting manager, with Sydney in the midst of a big play for Carlton forward Charlie Curnow.
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Beatson was targeted by Tasmania ahead of their introduction to the AFL but the Devils’ audacious bid — paired with an attempt to get ex-Sydney coach John Longmire — went nowhere, and he has now decided to stick with the Swans.
He will finish up as recruiting manager in December and move to a part-time role in the club’s academy.
“It has been an honour to work in the Sydney Swans recruiting team for the past 21 years, and while that chapter is over, I’m really looking forward to getting started in the Academy program,” Beatson said in a statement.
“I have a real passion for identifying talent, so I’m really glad I get to continue that side of my work.
“I have been lucky enough to work under two extremely supportive chairmen in Richard Colless and Andrew Pridham, and I have worked with so many tremendously talented people across all levels of the club, many of whom will remain friends for life.”
The Swans’ play to secure Curnow in Beatson’s final trade period would add to his strong legacy at the club.
It would not be the first time he had helped secure a dual Coleman medallist.
Sydney famously lured Hawthorn free agent Lance Franklin under a veil of secrecy at the end of 2013, and Beatson subsequently helped keep Sydney in premiership contention despite a trade ban.
7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary this week revealed Curnow had already met with Swans coach Dean Cox as part of his desperate bid to leave the Blues.
Meanwhile, Beatson, a Swans life member, was praised by outgoing chief executive Tom Harley on Tuesday.
“Kinn has had a hand in bringing every current player on our men’s list to the club,” the soon-to-be AFL chief operating officer said.
“He has been a wonderful servant for this football club and has always had an exceptional eye for talent.
“Beyond his day-to-day role, Kinn is a great friend to all and we are better for having him as part of the Swans.
“He’s been one of the best in the business for many years now, and we’re thrilled he’ll stay at our club to help develop future talent in the Sydney Swans Academy.”
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson revealed Tasmania’s bid to secure Beatson in April.
Devils chief Brendon Gale had approached the list guru and former Swans coach John Longmire about leading the expansion side’s football department together.
Beatson and Longmire both knocked back Tasmania, who later announced Todd Patterson and Derek Hine as list boss and recruiting manager respectively.
Patterson was signed from Melbourne after working his way up from recruiting officer and pro scout to AFLW list manager.
Hine spent 20 years at Collingwood before leaving the club at the end of 2024.
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