THE SYDNEY Swans will appeal to the AFL Commission to lift their trade ban at a specially convened meeting on December 15. 

The meeting, confirmed by Swans chairman Andrew Pridham on Monday night, was brought on at the request of the Swans. 

Pridham said he wouldn't comment further prior to the meeting, saying it "would be inappropriate and disrespectful of the process".

It follows AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan saying the Swans "can't have everything" and should accept the trade ban slapped on them.

McLachlan was responding to the then unconfirmed speculation the Swans may challenge the recent edict banning the club from trading until the end of the 2016 season unless they abandon their cost of living allowance (COLA).

The League ruling also stopped the Sydney Swans from signing up any restricted or unrestricted free agents for the 2015 or 2016 seasons.

"We've had an ongoing dialogue with the Swans for some time, it's just been a very tough one," McLachlan said. 

"There have to be some constraints. You can't have everything."

He conceded the Swans made a "strong and compelling" case that they had followed the AFL's rules when they contracted players including star forwards Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin under the COLA scheme.

But the "stark" measure was still justified, McLachlan said.

"This is not a reaction to anything," he said.

"The phasing and execution (of COLA) is challenging."

COLA is currently being phased out and will be replaced by a rent subsidy in the 2017 season.

When the edict was handed down earlier this month, Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said he was "very disappointed" the club had effectively been punished while simply following AFL regulations.