Sydney Swans are under real pressure to miss their first finals series since 2009, and Brisbane Lions legend Johnathon Brown believes John Longmire and the rest of his coaching staff need to trim some of the fat at the successful club.
The Swans won six straight going into its round 14 bye, then came out for the match of the round against Richmond in what many saw as a grand final preview.
Sydney were blown off the park by the reigning premiers, and while the 26-point margin doesn't seem large in any capacity, the last quarter between the two clubs showcased the dramatic difference in skill and composure.
Since then Sydney has won just one game, against North Melbourne, while going down to contenders Geelong and Essendon, as well as the massive shock loss to Gold Coast. Lance Franklin has kicked just two goals in the past two matches, and the Swans' attacking prowess has dried right up.
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Paul Roos, the man who coached the Swans to their first premiership in 72 years back in 2005, believes the straw has broken the camel's back for the club who currently sits in ninth position on the AFL ladder.
“I think we know there’s a tipping point … (and) I think the tipping point’s arrived for Sydney,” Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
“They look tired, they look wounded.”
Brown, who won three consecutive premierships with the Lions from 2001-2003, named five players that the Swans have to part with in order to be successful once again.
“This is the changing of the guard going forward. You’ll see a different Sydney side of round one of next year,” Brown said.
“They’re five big outs but it’s not end-of-the-world sort of stuff.
“I think Hannebery will be on the trade table. He’s on big money.
“Reports that he could potentially be out of there.
“I think Rohan should be traded.
“I think most likely Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh Heath Grundy will end their careers.
“Kieren Jack may go on somewhere else.”
Brown then listed his chosen Swans side for the first round in 2019, and boy, it's young.
Johnathan Brown’s suggested lineup for 2019. Believes all of Rohan, Jack, McVeigh, Grundy & Hannebery wont be there next year. Love seeing Blakey there 💪#goswans pic.twitter.com/FL5u0LnI8R
— Swans Central (@swanscentral) July 30, 2018
While Brown's comments might seem dramatic, with the Swans on the brink of missing their first finals campaign in nine years, perhaps a changing of the guard is warrented.
Rohan Connolly believes that because of Sydney's high-level of consistency in the last decade and half, their second-tier players haven't been forced to step up, and the Swans are now paying for it.
"The top 10 in Sydney’s best and fairest count of last season is instructive. Only two players in that list – George Hewett and Papley – have now played fewer than 70 games, and not much fewer," Connolly said.
"Do the Swans have enough ready-to-contribute types available across the park when the big guns are injured, tired or just struggling? You wonder. They certainly look pretty one-dimensional in all parts of the ground right now."
