- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In 2014 the Sydney Swans have the services of one of the biggest names in the game, dual premiership player and Coleman medallist Lance Franklin.
This, of course, is a huge deal and lurks as a worrying sign for the rest of the competition when you look at their defence.
With now both Kurt Tippett and Franklin at the Swans, will this combination lead the Swans to a flag?
Many now say John Longmire now has a balanced line-up and multiple options all around the ground.
He now has the tough midfield, with the solid yet attacking defence and the dangerous forwards. To see if the Swans are the real deal in 2014 however, the squad needs to be analysed.
Starting off with the defence, it’s important to note the role this group played in their premiership in 2012.
Many of their players have taken years to grow to the stature they currently sit at and their leadership and calmness under pressure makes this defence incredibly balanced and potent. Crucial to this line-up are Jarrad McVeigh and Nick Malceski.
Their persistent run off half back and creativity going forward has been significant under Longmire. Co-captain McVeigh was recognised for this when he took out the clubs best and fairest last year.
As key position players go, Sydney possess two genuinely high class backs in Ted Richards and Heath Grundy.
As veterans across the team, they keep the defence together and have brought improved the games of players like Dane Rampe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Nick Smith down in defence.
Now with the inclusion of Buddy it may seem that Sam Reid will push down back adding more strength to this already extremely solid unit who are so disciplined throughout the four quarters.
If we look at the top four sides of last year, they all had strong tough and competitive midfielders.
This is exactly the case at Sydney.
Last year some of the Swans midfielders probably didn’t have the year they wanted to and didn’t continue the form they had in the premiership year.
Players such as Josh Kennedy, Lewis Jetta and Kieran Jack all played good footy in patches but didn’t put a consistent season together.
They again though have found even more depth to this midfield, with the inclusions of Brandon Jack and Tom Mitchell last year.
Both of these players are ball magnets, and with Kennedy, Ryan O’Keefe, Jack and Daniel Hannebery all playing roles as both inside and outside players, the Swans look a formidable unit in the middle.
Finally the weakness has been restored at the Swans.
Tippett and Franklin have now been signed, but will they solve the case?
The problem last year is that Sydney simply didn’t have enough firepower from their forwards.
Their midfielders will always chip in with goals but they needed this forward line target.
Tippett managed to be their highest goal kicker with 35 goals even though he missed half the season through suspension.
Sam Reid again tried but struggled up forward and now it looks as if he may play back this season.
Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta are both dangerous options and will continue to cause opposition headaches in 2014.
As well as this they now can afford to rest the likes of Mike Pyke down forward if they need to and can also rest Jack and Parker here for spells on the half forward line.
So the questions asked by the AFL world have been answered on paper, but as we know in footy actions speak a lot louder than words.
Will this Sydney team prove to be strong against the best oppositions? Or will the likes of Hawthorn and Fremantle continue to outclass them on the big stage, like they did in the finals of 2013.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.