The West Coast Eagles have significantly improved their 2021 draft hand as part of a complex deal that has sent ruckman Tom Hickey to Sydney.

The Eagles agreed to release Hickey on Wednesday and sent picks 34 and 60 to the Swans in exchange for their picks 58 and 62 in this year’s draft, on top of a future second-round selection tied to Port Adelaide and Sydney’s future round three pick.

Hickey was contracted to the Eagles for the 2021 campaign but requested a trade for family reasons and in search of more AFL opportunities.

The 29-year-old made just three appearances in blue and gold this year due to Nic Naitanui’s stunning resurgence, tall forward Oscar Allen’s support and youngster Bailey Williams’ emergence.

Hickey will join his fourth club two seasons after he was traded from St Kilda in a deal involving West Coast’s pick 39 in the 2018 draft as the centrepiece amid some other pick swaps. 

The ex-Saint and Sun was a key member of the Eagles’ side in 2019 while Naitanui recovered from his second knee reconstruction, following the departure of premiership ruckman Scott Lycett.

Hickey played 20 matches, averaged 12.5 disposals and booted nine goals in a career-best season, which culminated in the only two finals of his career so far.

The journeyman notched his 100^th match in his 10^th season in the AFL in round one this year but added only two more appearances as Naitanui shouldered a greater share of the ruck load in shortened game time.

West Coast list manager Darren Glass thanked Hickey for his contribution to the club and wished Tom, his wife Chloe and son Lou well.

“Although Tom was contracted for another season he came to the club and expressed a desire to be closer to family on the east coast, and believed he would find more opportunity to play at Sydney,” Glass said.

“We were able to negotiate a trade with the Swans which has helped us achieve a stronger hand in next year’s draft, which was always part of our strategy, and we are confident in our ruck depth going forward.

“We thank Tom for his efforts over the past two seasons and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”

The Eagles currently hold selections 58, 62 and 91 in December’s draft.

For the 2021 draft West Coast currently holds a bounty of selections including its round one, two and three picks, plus Port Adelaide’s round two pick and Sydney’s round three selection.

The Trade Period ends at 4.30pm AWST on Thursday.