Collingwood coach Craig McRae has spoken to Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom.

7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary has revealed that McRae had a chat to the Swans’ tackling machine on Friday night.

Cleary said the Magpies are hunting midfielders and at 25 years old Rowbottom would be a perfect fit considering the older age of some of their veteran stars.

“His preference is to stay (at Sydney) but the last four days of the window can throw up curveballs,” Cleary said.

“And (Carlton’s Charlie) Curnow still needs to get done.”

The Swans are keen to get Curnow, the 28-year-old key forward who is a dual All-Australian and a two-time Coleman medallist (leading goalkicker in a season).

The whispers around the popular Sydney star have been bubbling away for some weeks now, and in recent

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