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The Sydney Swans went into the 2014 grand final as warm favourites, and came out the other side beaten, bruised and humiliated on the game’s biggest stage.
Admittedly, they ran into a display of peak footballing perfection that day, from a fellow powerhouse intent on shoring up their legacy.
Questions will linger over whether there’ll be any long-lasting scars from the grand final, but if the Swans are known for nothing else, it’s resilience and mental fortitude.
Check out the rest of Rosey’s AFL preview series here.
I expect the heavy defeat to wound Sydney’s collective pride and spark their resolve, rather than lead to a crumbling. Here’s a potential squad:
B: N.Smith H.Grundy S.Reid
HB: D.Rampe T.Richards R.Shaw
C: L.Jetta J.Kennedy J.McVeigh
HF: B.McGlynn L.Franklin L.Parker
F: A.Goodes K.Tippett T.Mitchell
Foll: M.Pyke D.Hannebery K.Jack
Int: H.Cunningham C.Bird I.Heeney G.Rohan
Em: B.Jack J.Laidler J.Lloyd
The Swans lost All-Australian Nick Malceski to free agency, and fringe players Tim Membrey and Shane Biggs to lower clubs post-2014, and at the latest possible notice they were effectively barred from trading other AFL players into their club. It was the most disgraceful display of head office tampering we’ve likely ever seen.
The only thing Sydney fans could console themselves with was that underage gun Isaac Heeney would be coming onto their list at a heavy discount, having to only use pick 18 for a widely acknowledged top three prospect.
It’s hard to believe the AFL didn’t factor this in when handing down their bizarre ruling. They must believe you can have too much of a good thing.
Lance Franklin is the biggest name in the Sydney side and possibly the biggest name in football. His mercurial talents are well known, but his consistency of performance must also be applauded. Buddy seldom has a quiet game, and even rarer still does he let a match go by without having a positive impact of some kind.
The Swans pulled off the biggest coup in decades to land Franklin, paying a huge amount in terms of time, money and most importantly, opposition and head office goodwill.
No-one minded that the Swans were masters at list management and siphoning off underrated talent from opposition clubs. But once they added Franklin to the previous year’s high profile recruiting of Kurt Tippett, enough was declared enough.
Tippett has looked as impressive in Swans colours as at any time in his career (it helps that his jumper looks spray painted on), but last year struggled to get on the park. He and Buddy will form the most potent key forward duo in the league if they can play a full season together.
Adam Goodes is getting older, and unlike a Brent Harvey, looks it. He’ll work into the season and poke around the field using his experience and nous to give us flashes of class.
The Swans don’t have much in the way of experienced small or mid-size forwards, but will instead rely on a heavy rotation of midfielders floating through the front half of the ground.
Sam Reid played like an anonymous lost soul in 2014, very much put in the shade by his big name teammates. He’s been poorly coached, and should have been spending a lot of time down back being trained as a replacement for the ageing Ted Richards.
Richards and Heath Grundy will again be asked to shoulder the key position load down back, and we know what we’re going to get. Richards is solid and reliable, Grundy will make the odd howler with ball in hand.
Nick Smith is now an All-Australian as a lock-down defender, and is gradually increasing his offensive capabilities. Rhys Shaw has been around forever, and still takes the game on like he’s in his early 20s, often to the team’s advantage, sometimes to its detriment. He’s no Malceski.
Dane Rampe has impressed since debut, playing with maturity belying only two years in the AFL system. He is now one of the most important cogs in the Sydney machine.
Lewis Jetta has been appointed to replace the missing Malceski class when rebounding off the half-back line. He’s a solid football citizen now, but more was expected after his stunning breakout in 2012. Perhaps the change of scenery will see him elevate his game once more.
Josh Kennedy leads the league in contested possessions every year, and was rated highly enough by The Roar panel to be rated the number 6 in the league. He’ll continue to be a beast over the ball.
Jarrad McVeigh provides the quiet class and poise. Swans fans offer a contented sigh when the ball is in hands, knowing it will be put to good use.
Luke Parker has a concrete body in close, and when he doesn’t win the ball (and he wins a lot), he’s laying tackle after tackle. Add his nose for a goal, which the very best midfielders have, and he’s all but the complete package. And he’s only 22, with two or three years improvement left in him.
Dan Hannebery was a bit more up and down than he would have liked in 2014, but when he’s on, some think he’s the most dangerous Sydney mid. He needs to find that 2012 grand final form on a consistent basis.
Kieren Jack was another who didn’t have quite the impact of previous seasons, down in all the key indicators that he is known for. He’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t bounce back to his previous best.
Ben McGlynn stepped up where others slipped, having an enormous impact in the front half of the ground, both offensively and defensively. He’s been on an AFL list for two flags and another grand final, but has yet to taste premiership glory. There’s no-one hungrier, and he plays like it.
Mike Pyke is a great story, but an ordinary footballer based on his 2014 campaign, completely dropping off the map after an excellent 2013. He needs to find his presence around the ground, and assert some authority.
Harry Cunningham and Jake Lloyd were given full seasons ahead of Tom Mitchell last year, but it’s time for John Longmire to let Mitchell run loose. He’s not going to improve getting 50 touches in the NEAFL, and we’ve seen what he’s got at AFL level.
Sydney’s midfield still runs deep, and may run deeper still if Isaac Heeney lives up the raps.
Their forward-line has match-winners, and it’s worth remembering they were the fourth highest scoring side last season. They’ll get supply, and they’ll turn it into goals.
The Swans also had the tightest defence in 2014, even stingier than Fremantle. While on paper they’re starting to look a little thin back there, team defence is what restricts sides, and Sydney has it.
Sydney has too much quality to not contend again, but the depth has taken a hit in recent years, which can expose them if they get a run of injuries.
If they can peak their run to get their best side together come finals, they’ll go close to winning the flag. They’re one of only three teams that can.
Predicted ladder spread: first-fourth
Predicted finish: third
Rosey’s ladder
3rd – Sydney
4th – North Melbourne
5th – Fremantle
6th – Gold Coast
7th – Geelong
8th – Richmond
9th – Essendon
10th – Brisbane
11th – Adelaide
12th – Collingwood
13th – Greater Western Sydney
14th – West Coast
15th – Carlton
16th – Melbourne
17th – Western Bulldogs
18th – St Kilda