After a shocking start to last season, Sydney has hauled itself back into the premiership hunt. After a couple of near-misses, can the Swans get to the top of the mountain?
The rundown
2017 record: 15 wins, 9 losses (5th)
List age ranking (oldest to youngest): 7th
List experience ranking (most to fewest games): 4th
Footyology draw ranking (easiest to hardest): 12th
MORE: The AFL Rover: Coach's sexual harassment case may resurface soon
Sydney list changes for 2018
Ins
Matthew Ling (Geelong Falcons), Tom McCartin (Geelong Falcons), Ryley Stoddart (Eastern Ranges), Angus Styles (Sandringham Dragons), Joel Amartey (Sandringham Dragons), James Bell (UNSW-ES), Jake Brown (St George – Sydney AFL)
Outs
Kurt Tippett (retired), Sam Murray (Collingwood), Brandon Jack (delisted), Michael Talia (delisted), Tyrone Leonardis (delisted), Shaun Edwards (retired), Jeremy Laidler (retired), Sam Fisher (delisted)
What is Sydney's best 22?
B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
HB: Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Melican, Callum Mills
C: Isaac Heeney, Josh Kennedy, Jake Lloyd
HF: Gary Rohan, Lance Franklin, Will Hayward
F: Tom Papley, Sam Reid, Dean Towers
Foll: Callum Sinclair, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker
Inter: Kieren Jack, Nic Newman, Zak Jones, George Hewett
Emerg: Oliver Florent, Harry Cunningham, Aliir Aliir
Sydney 2018 season preview
Sydney’s 2017 season represented one of the starkest contrasts of fortunes the modern game has seen.
From a hapless 0-6 and bottom of the ladder, the Swans proceeded to win just about every week, 14 of their remaining 16 home and away games (the two defeats by only a goal), then a 65-point rout of Essendon in the elimination final, before bowing out at the hands of Geelong the following week.
In hindsight, the early malaise had much to do with the absence of key personnel in all areas of the ground, Isaac Heeney, Dane Rampe, Tom Papley, Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh’s injuries particularly costly.
Up and running again, they made an enormous difference, particularly to the hard-ball indicators on which the Swans have always prided themselves, Sydney 17th for contested ball during that barren opening to the season, top three subsequently.
Even the early malaise had an upside, though, Sydney coach John Longmire blooding another crop of kids. Over the past two seasons, the Swans have debuted no fewer than 13 youngsters, almost as many as North Melbourne or Brisbane, and unusual for a team still near the top of the ladder.
Whilst Sydney goes into the 2018 season with the fourth most-experienced list in the competition, it’s only seventh in terms of age, and will have (including rookies) 23 of 45 players who have played just 20 AFL games or less, at least eight of whom could argue persuasively that they deserve a spot in the Swans’ best 22.
Will Hayward was the standout of the “newbies” in 2017, Oliver Florent, too, looks promising, but Sydney has been able to get consistent improvement also from players who have already been on the list several years, Dean Towers a good example.
One spanner in the works already is ruckman Sam Naismith’s season-ending knee injury, leaving Callum Sinclair to shoulder the load with some help from Sam Reid. But there is at least another ruckman on the list, though, in draftee Darcy Cameron, another base potentially covered.
It’s tremendous list engineering and ensures that this perennial finals competitor isn’t likely to be leaving the upper echelons of the ladder any time soon.
But character is perhaps Sydney’s greatest strength. That 0-6 start to last year was bad enough to have torpedoed a lesser club’s entire season, with morale and confidence low indeed.
Instead, the Swans finished the year with very respectable numbers across the board. Most remarkably, they were ranked No.1 for fewest points conceded, and as much as the midfield group is feted for its depth and class, that in itself is testament to the importance of their backline.
It’s no great surprise that part of the ground contains four of Sydney’s 10 most experienced players in Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith and Dane Rampe. But the half-back rebounding positions have also proved great launching pads for longer senior careers, Callum Mills just the latest example.
In attack, Lance Franklin continues to play brilliant, potent football, Reid looks ready to deliver his best consistently, and Tom Papley’s value as a goalkicking, pressure-applying small forward is still somewhat underrated.
It’s an impressive mix of experience, youth and talent, and after last year’s Lazarus effort, the rest of the competition will rightly be anxious about what Sydney can achieve with a decent start this time.
Where will Sydney finish in 2018?
5th. The Swans will be in the race for a top four berth right up to their necks. Others’ highs might be more spectacular, but Sydney’s consistency of effort is hard to beat.