Sydney coach Paul Roos says he’s not surprised to see suspended forward Barry Hall considering quitting the Swans and making a fresh start with a new AFL club in 2010.

Hall, who is serving a two-game ban for hitting Adelaide fullback Ben Rutten last weekend, has said he may leave the Swans.

The seven-time Swans leading goalkicker is old in AFL terms at 32 and would appear at long odds to secure a contract with a rival club, especially considering his AFL Tribunal record of missing 26 games through suspension including eight in 2008.

Hall said in his Sydney Morning Herald column on Friday: “Could now be the right time for me to finish up at the Swans?

“It could give me a break that I might benefit from, and freshen me up for a crack with a new club next season,” the three-time All-Australian added.

Roos says the 11th-placed Swans are concentrating on Sunday’s clash with 13th-placed North Melbourne at the SCG and will make a decision on Hall’s playing future before their round-16 game against Carlton, when Hall is available to return.

“The third week is when he’s due back. We’re not going to rush the process at all,” Roos said on Friday.

“It (the article) is not surprising.

“I genuinely stand here and I don’t know what’s going to happen and I think that’s what Barry is saying in his article.

“It’s just a natural thing for him to think about, all those sort of things that were mentioned in the paper today.”

Hall said in his column that his other option was to hang around.

“So I could stay here at the club, hope they don’t sack me, and return to footy in two weeks after my suspension,” the former Swans captain added.

Roos says Hall is a “revered figure” at the Swans.

“Whatever happens, we’ll certainly take into consideration Barry Hall as well as the footy club,” Roos said.

I want a positive outcome for the footy club and for Barry Hall.

“If he plays again next year and it doesn’t happen to be at this football club, I’ll be the first one to ring him and wish him all the best.

“I don’t know what’s going to transpire.”

Roos denied a suggestion that the Swans had the chance last year to offload Hall to the Western Bulldogs.

“There was no offer so that’s a complete fabrication. That just didn’t happen,” Roos said.

Asked if rival teams would be prepared to trade for Hall, Roos said: “I can’t speak for any other footy club.

“We will have some ongoing discussions with him and eventually we’ll make a decision as a footy club.”

Roos said he expected key defender Craig Bolton (knee) and club champion Jarrad McVeigh (shoulder) to return from injury on Sunday.

The coach predicted Ted Richards or Lewis Roberts-Thomson may be sent from defence into the centre half-forward post in Hall’s absence, with Mick O’Loughlin playing out of the goalsquare and Adam Goodes likely to be a marking target up forward.

© AAP 2012

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