The Swans did what they do in 2018 – play finals - but it was a little bit different to a normal Sydney September as they were thrashed by crosstown rival GWS, scoring just 30 points for the match.
And things didn’t get much better once the dust had settled, with three-time All Australian Dan Hannebery asking for a trade to St Kilda and club mascot Gary Rohan also wanting out, while rumours swirled about the futures of Luke Parker and Jake Lloyd.
The exodus was limited and at the end of the day the list looks no weaker than it did before the post-season dealings, but there’s been an air of disquiet hanging around the Swans since the 2016 Grand Final loss and it’s starting to smell just a little pungent.
The young talent at Sydney could be the breath of fresh air the place needs, and the addition of Nick Blakey in the draft is a great addition to a side desperate to find help for Lance Franklin in front of goals.
However, many believe there is a divide between youth and the veterans at Sydney, and with half a dozen ‘over 30s’ still shuffling around it may be a while before true happiness is in place.
List changes
In
Ryan Clarke (North Melbourne), Jackson Thurlow (Geelong), Daniel Menzel (Geelong), Nick Blakey (Sydney Academy, pictured), James Rowbottom (Oakleigh Chargers), Justin McInerney (Northern Knights), Zac Foot (Dandenong Stingrays)
Rookies
Durak Tucker (Peel Thunder), Harry Reynolds (Sandringham Dragons), Kurt Tippett (Sydney)
Out
Dan Hannebery, Nic Newman, Gary Rohan, Jake Brown, Jordan Foote, Alex Johnson, Harry Marsh, Daniel Robinson, Angus Styles, Dean Towers
Thank you Hanners for the impact you had in the red and white.
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) October 11, 2018
We wish you all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/YsvNQq4Yn4
Best Brownlow chances
Josh Kennedy $34, Lance Franklin $51, Isaac Heeney $81, Luke Parker $101
While Kennedy is the shortest-priced Swan in Brownlow betting the skipper would need to have an Indian Summer next winter if he was to be any chance, although he may have already had his last hurrah with 2017’s fourth-placed finish.
Heeney seems the more likely as he has been taking his game to new heights recently and getting a real knack for the spectacular. There’s no doubt the 22-year-old is going to be a superstar of the game, its just a matter of when he takes the leap.
‘Buddy’ also knows how to catch the eye and managed to rack up 16 votes in 2018 – roughly one vote for each minute of training if we’re to believe John Longmire.
Players to watch
Nick Blakey, Daniel Menzel
Blakey could have chosen to go to either North Melbourne or Brisbane as a father-son recruit, but settled on Sydney as an Academy graduate and where his old man John happens to work. His future looks to be as a key forward but he has all the attributes to make the grade as a midfielder, and a bloody good one. It will be interesting to see if John Longmire throws Blakey in at the deep end in an effort to relieve the pressure on Franklin, or if the Swans prefer to nurse their investment through the lower leagues.
Menzel will definitely be placed at Buddy’s feet from round one – if he’s fit to play. The former Cat had groin surgery last week that will keep him from full training until February and may delay the start to his season. No one questions Menzel’s goalkicking ability, but his pressure game has come under plenty of criticism and it’s imperative to his future, and Sydney’s, that he learns how to keep the ball in the front half.
Welcome @DanielMenzel10 to his first session in the red & white 👌 #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/GVrBbJUnfN
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 25, 2018
A last chance to watch?
Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy
The coach seemed to have McVeigh retired midway through 2018 and speculation rose that the 33-year-old would look for a new club, but it was impossible to question his value to the team and, with Dan Hannebery leaving, the Swans’ midfield needs all the quality it can get while the young kids develop. A one-year contract extension came through, but it will be hard to see the former skipper and two-time best and fairest winner making it to 2020.
Grundy is another club favourite and the cornerstone of Sydney’s defence for the past decade, however he’s only signed till the end of 2019 and will be 33 by then. A natural successor may not yet be evident, but Longmire will be hoping to find younger options to take his side into the future.
Sydney Swans’ 2019 list
| No. | Name | Games | Date of birth | Height, weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Aliir, Aliir | 28 | 5 Sep 1994 | 194cm 94kg | Defender |
| 46 | Amartey, Joel (R) | 0 | 2 Sep 1999 | 196cm 88kg | Ruck |
| 32 | Bell, James (R) | 0 | 10 Feb 1999 | 183cm 79kg | Midfield |
| 22 | Blakey, Nick | 0 | 195cm 82kg | Forward | |
| 17 | Cameron, Darcy | 1 | 18 Jul 1995 | 204cm 100kg | Ruck |
| Clarke, Ryan | 40 | 17 Jun 1997 | 184cm 87kg | Defender | |
| 7 | Cunningham, Harry | 104 | 6 Dec 1993 | 182cm 77kg | Forward |
| 34 | Dawson, Jordan | 5 | 9 Apr 1997 | 190cm 88kg | Forward |
| 13 | Florent, Oliver | 32 | 22 Jul 1998 | 183cm 80kg | Forward |
| 16 | Foot, Zac | 0 | 181cm 73kg | Midfield | |
| 42 | Fox, Robbie (R) | 13 | 16 Apr 1993 | 185cm 85kg | Midfield |
| 23 | Franklin, Lance | 290 | 30 Jan 1987 | 199cm 107kg | Forward |
| 39 | Grundy, Heath | 255 | 2 Jun 1986 | 192cm 105kg | Defender |
| 9 | Hayward, Will | 40 | 26 Oct 1998 | 186cm 80kg | Forward |
| 5 | Heeney, Isaac | 80 | 5 May 1996 | 186cm 85kg | Midfield |
| 29 | Hewett, George | 71 | 29 Dec 1995 | 188cm 83kg | Midfield |
| 15 | Jack, Kieren | 248 | 28 Jun 1987 | 178cm 81kg | Midfield |
| 10 | Jones, Zak | 73 | 15 Mar 1995 | 181cm 78kg | Defender |
| 12 | Kennedy, Josh P. | 227 | 20 Jun 1988 | 190cm 95kg | Midfield |
| 19 | Ling, Matthew | 0 | 21 Apr 1999 | 183cm 76kg | Defender |
| 44 | Lloyd, Jake | 115 | 20 Sep 1993 | 180cm 79kg | Defender |
| 21 | Maibaum, Jack | 0 | 27 Mar 1998 | 193cm 94kg | Defender |
| 30 | McCartin, Tom | 15 | 30 Dec 1999 | 192cm 82kg | Forward |
| 3 | McVeigh, Jarrad | 319 | 7 Apr 1985 | 184cm 84kg | Defender |
| 27 | Mcinerney, Justin | 0 | Midfield | ||
| 43 | Melican, Lewis (R) | 20 | 4 Nov 1996 | 195cm 100kg | Defender |
| 2 | Menzel, Daniel | 73 | 13 Sep 1991 | 190cm 90kg | Forward |
| 14 | Mills, Callum | 55 | 2 Apr 1997 | 188cm 82kg | Defender |
| 35 | Naismith, Sam | 28 | 16 Jul 1992 | 205cm 109kg | Ruck |
| 38 | O'Riordan, Colin (R) | 3 | 12 Oct 1995 | 185cm 83kg | Defender |
| 11 | Papley, Tom | 60 | 13 Jul 1996 | 177cm 77kg | Forward |
| 26 | Parker, Luke | 173 | 25 Oct 1992 | 183cm 88kg | Midfield |
| 47 | Pink, Toby (R) | 0 | 11 Aug 1998 | 194cm 92kg | Forward |
| 24 | Rampe, Dane | 138 | 2 Jun 1990 | 189cm 86kg | Defender |
| 20 | Reid, Sam | 121 | 27 Dec 1991 | 196cm 99kg | Forward |
| 31 | Reynolds, Harry (R) | 0 | 190cm 74kg | Defender | |
| 25 | Ronke, Ben (R) | 18 | 18 Dec 1997 | 182cm 77kg | Forward |
| 1 | Rose, James | 9 | 16 Apr 1996 | 186cm 79kg | Forward |
| 8 | Rowbottom, James | 0 | 186cm 76kg | Midfield | |
| 18 | Sinclair, Callum | 87 | 23 Sep 1989 | 200cm 96kg | Ruck |
| 40 | Smith, Nick | 211 | 12 Jun 1988 | 183cm 83kg | Defender |
| 33 | Stoddart, Ryley | 2 | 15 Oct 1999 | 184cm 73kg | Defender |
| 6 | Thurlow, Jackson | 46 | 28 Mar 1994 | 191cm 88kg | Defender |
| 8 | Tippett, Kurt (R) | 178 | 8 May 1987 | 202cm 106kg | Forward |
| 28 | Tucker, Durak (R) | 0 | 189cm 84kg | Defender | |
| 45 | Wicks, Sam (R) | 0 | Forward |
Fresh faces 🙂 #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/Xvxstriw2Q
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 26, 2018
Sydney Swans’ 2019 Fixture
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday 23 Mar 7:25pm | Western Bulldogs | Marvel Stadium |
| 2 | Friday 29 Mar 7:50pm | Adelaide | SCG |
| 3 | Saturday 6 Apr 1:45pm | Carlton | Marvel Stadium |
| 4 | Thursday 11 Apr 7:20pm | Melbourne | SCG |
| 5 | Saturday 20 Apr 7:25pm | Richmond | Marvel Stadium |
| 6 | Saturday 27 Apr 7:25pm | GWS Giants | SCG |
| 7 | Saturday 4 May 4:35pm | Brisbane | Gabba |
| 8 | Friday 10 May 7:50pm | Essendon | SCG |
| 9 | Saturday 18 May 7:25pm | North Melbourne | Blundstone Arena |
| 10 | Friday 24 May 7:50pm | Collingwood | SCG |
| 11 | Saturday 1 Jun 4:35pm | Geelong | GMHBA Stadium |
| 12 | Sunday 9 Jun 3:20pm | West Coast | SCG |
| 13 | BYE | ||
| 14 | Friday 21 Jun 7:50pm | Hawthorn | SCG |
| 15 | Saturday 29 Jun 4:35pm | Gold Coast | SCG |
| 16 | Saturday 6 Jul 1:45pm | Essendon | MCG |
| 17 | Saturday 13 Jul 1:45pm | Carlton | SCG |
| 18 | Saturday 20 Jul 6:10pm | Fremantle | Optus Stadium |
| 19 | Sunday 28 Jul 3:20pm | Geelong | SCG |
| 20 | Saturday 3 Aug 2:10pm | GWS Giants | Showground Stadium |
| 21 | Saturday 10 Aug 1:40pm | Port Adelaide | Adelaide Oval |
| 22 | Friday 16 Aug 7:50pm | Melbourne | MCG |
| 23 | TBC | St Kilda | SCG |
Games played on
Thursday: 1
Friday: 5
Saturday: 13
Sunday: 2
Teams played twice
Essendon, Carlton, GWS Giants, Melbourne, Geelong
2019 Preview and premiership odds
Is it ever possible to write off the Swans going into a new year? Probably not, but the feeling is they’re at the least competitive level they’ve been this century and there’ll need to be a bit of pain before success comes knocking again.
Champion Data recently rated Sydney 13th when assessing the strength of club lists, a lot lower than the equal fifth-favourite premiership odds of $12 would suggest, and with Hannebery gone and McVeigh, Kennedy, Franklin, Grundy and Kieren Jack all on the wrong side of 30, it would seem the magnificent recent era is coming to an end.
Is there time for one more tilt at the title before the champions leave and with Heeney, Luke Parker and Callum Mills coming through?
It may be harder to get to September, but if the Swans are there when the finals come around … well, you just don’t know.