Mick Malthouse gave it more thought than he promised, but still made it clear there was no chance former Sydney forward Barry Hall would play for Collingwood in the AFL in 2010.

Malthouse said he "wouldn't give it two seconds of thought" about recruiting Hall, who on Tuesday quit the Swans and whose bad disciplinary record is the biggest impediment on him getting a chance at another club next year.

But over the next 40 seconds, the Magpies coach made it known there was little point in Collingwood trying to change Hall, who this season became an on-field timebomb despite the Swans' best efforts.

"If (Sydney coach) Paul Roos and (co-captain) Brett Kirk can't get the best out of a bloke and he's prepared to move (away from) those two blokes, who I've got the highest admiration for, then I'm not about to take that on," Malthouse said on Thursday.

Malthouse's ruling was a damning one, given the Magpies have reformed their share of trouble-makers in recent years and that Dane Swan, Alan Didak and Heath Shaw are currently firing.

But he also said Hall, 32, would not benefit from returning to Melbourne given the public scrutiny he would face.

"Barry's got to put up with it, but if he comes to Melbourne good luck," he said.

Hall is yet to decide whether he seeks a chance at another club next year, as he plans on taking his time to decide on his future, which could also involve pursuing a professional boxing career.

The Western Bulldogs have been the only club to show any interest, but coach Rodney Eade also indicated they were unlikely to chase Hall, despite showing an interest last year.

"If push came to shove, you'd say highly unlikely," Eade told the AFL website.

"We were interested in him last year, but it's 12 months on, he's 12 months older and our list is 12 months down the track.

"Our tall kids are a year older."

Hall's departure leaves Sydney with several conundrums, namely who will be groomed as key forwards - Michael O'Loughlin will also retire at the end of the season - and who, besides Adam Goodes, becomes the face of the club in the crucial Sydney market.

Addressing the first point, Roos said on Thursday the Swans had already considered their options beyond Hall and O'Loughlin, 32, which was why players like Heath Grundy, Jesse White, Kieren Jack and Craig Bird had been tried in attack.

Those and younger players should get plenty of opportunity, as Roos said Sydney were unlikely to trade for a key forward in the post-season.

"It's very unlikely we'll go to the market at the end of year," he said.

"If something pops up out of the blue, there's a possibility, but at this stage we're certainly looking to take some early draft picks, give our young blokes a chance at the back end of this year and go into next year with a younger-looking forward line."

Sydney have previously ruled out the need to recruit a marquee player to help market the side, although Roos pointed out Hall was different to former star Tony Lockett, in that the former developed into a match-winner and the face of the club after joining the Swans, in 2002.

"We recruited him because we thought he could play and he'd be good for the club, he just happened to turn into a real big figure and a great player," Roos said.

"The first and foremost decision we make with anyone coming in is can they play and can they help the footy club win, so I don't think we just go out and target players just because they're a big name.

"We didn't do it with Hally."

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