Will Hayward says his trade to Carlton “probably could’ve been handled better” by Sydney as he and fellow Blues recruit Ollie Florent opened up on their moves.

Hayward and Florent were both thrown into Charlie Curnow trade talks earlier this month as part of the Swans’ efforts to acquire the superstar forward.

The two close mates, both 27, initially didn’t want to leave Sydney, having each signed five-year contract extensions last year through to 2029.

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But conversations with the Swans during the trade period while they were on holiday in Argentina ultimately convinced them to move on.

Florent recalled a phone call from Sydney footy boss Leon Cameron that convinced him his future was elsewhere.

“Oh yeah, it was tough. It was definitely tough,” Florent told AFL Media.

“They pretty much just said we want you out. We want you gone.”

Hayward received a call from Swans coach Dean Cox along the same lines.

“Over the whole period, I had two phone calls with ‘Coxy’,” Hayward told AFL Media.

“That’s pretty much it. Those phone calls made it pretty easy to want to join Carlton.”

Hayward was ironically courted by Carlton last year when he was eligible for free agency, before recommitting to Sydney.

The forward and Florent have played their entire 184-game careers at Sydney after being drafted together in the first round of the 2016 National Draft.

“It probably could’ve been handled better,” Hayward added.

“That club is full of great people. It’s probably just a little slip-up with how it was handled. It’s a great club. But I also don’t want to take that away from the fact that I’m super grateful to be here and that I’m actually really happy to be here.

“That movie is finished now. We’re starting a new one here and we’re super excited.”

Florent also said “I don’t really want to talk badly of the Swans” after he “had the best time there.”

The utility, who was involved in a separate trade to the Curnow deal, was dropped to the VFL for parts of this season.

Sydney and Carlton ultimately agreed on a Curnow deal in the final minutes of the trade period that saw the Swans give up Hayward, Pick 11 and two future first-round picks for Curnow and three second-rounders.

It capped off a busy off-season of player movement at Ikon Park. Ben Ainsworth, Campbell Chesser and Liam Reidy also landed at the club and Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni departed in free agency.