Sydney recruit Taylor Adams says his AFL career will be unfulfilled if he cannot win a premiership with the Swans during the next three seasons.
Adams’s take on how his time in the AFL has unfolded comes as Brodie Grundy insists he harbours no regrets about his ill-fated move to Melbourne as he too prepares for a fresh start at the Swans.
Switching from 2023 premiers Collingwood, Adams joins Sydney in search of more time in the midfield after Magpies coach Craig McRae used him more at half-forward during the 2023 season.
“The decision was based on footy. I was clearly playing out of my preferred role,” Adams said. “To be honest the biggest reason (for joining Sydney) was I felt my footy was on the decline. I felt like I had more to give.
“(Sydney) have identified that their stoppage work had room for improvement last year and maybe their on-field leadership so hopefully I can have an impact in both of those parts of the game.
“I still think I’ve got my best footy ahead of me.”
The Swans emerged from the trade period as big winners, adding Grundy, Adams, former Fremantle defender Joel Hamling and ex-Demon James Jordon to a list mostly similar to the one that made the 2022 grand final.
Adams has already had two close brushes with premiership glory.
He first played in the Collingwood side that lost the epic 2018 grand final to West Coast and watched on with a hamstring injury as the Magpies won this year’s thrilling decider against Brisbane.
Adams signed a three-year deal with Sydney just days after the grand final, eager to make the most of the Swans’ premiership window.
“I’m 30 years old, just turned 30 and missed out on a premiership. I’ve been playing for 12 years, chasing one of those,” Adams said.
“You’d go as far as saying my career would be unfulfilled if I didn’t get one.
“I know that’s a bold statement but I’ve packed up my life and moved myself and my family up here.
“I believe that we’ve got the list and the coaching panel and the support network to get it done at some point in the next three years.”]
Former Collingwood teammate Grundy joins Sydney after a season at the Demons that began with the hopes of forming a ruck-forward partnership with captain Max Gawn.
It ended with Grundy playing only one senior game after round 17.
But with the chance to have worked alongside six-time All-Australian Gawn at a flag-contending club, Grundy insists he is not bitter.
“I don’t have any regrets about my time at Melbourne,” he said.
“If I was really attached and fixed, then that year, I’d be framing that as a negative but that’s definitely not the case.
“Like any good management or any good team you have to sit down and think about, ‘Is this working?’
“Credit to Melbourne and my team, we were just pretty honest and forthright.
“I think everyone’s happy and I get to go on and try to play some senior footy and contribute hopefully really meaningfully to this side.”
Grundy will fill the spot vacated by the retired Tom Hickey and is keen to work under former West Coast premiership ruckman Dean Cox, now an assistant coach at the Swans.
“I really identify with the way that he played his football,” Grundy said. “I actually remember having a beer with him, he might not even remember, maybe in my second or third year, at our manager’s Christmas party.
“I was probably 20, 21. Now to have him be my mentor here, that younger version of me would be saying ‘Well done, that’s a great outcome’.”
George Apps
Roar Rookie
So do I!
Knoxy
Roar Rookie
Taylor is a champion player with or without a premiership medallion. If the Pies don't win it next year I'd love to see him win one with the Swans!
Shane
Roar Rookie
They don't include some of the Port players in my list, also the comparison is 24 and under, theirs is 23 and under. I really rate Gulden, I would take him before Naicos. Warner is good as well, I don't think the others would be in Port's top six young players as good as they are, maybe Blakey. Lots of Port Players have been playing under injury in the past 2 years as well. A good preseason and a good injury run will see the team do well, the opposite will see them fall out of the 8 as they probably don't have the depth that Sydney has and the Port list looks a touch imbalanced in not having enough speedy utilities. Personally I would move Georgiadis to the wing, like when Chad Cornes and Matthew Richardson were moved to the midfield.
Shane
Roar Rookie
I actually think Port would have won but in a close game. Much better than the dull fest it turned out to be.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I hate xmas
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
I wish it had of happened in 2014. Sydney would have another flag they deserved after clearly being the best side during all of 2014, before being mugged by Hawthorn in the first quarter of the GF …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Sydney ranked #1, Gold Coast #2, Port #3, Freo #4 in this article from SEN – https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/11/30/ranking-the-young-cores-of-all-18-afl-clubs-in-2024/
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Yes Christmas is the season to be hopeful. :happy:
Shane
Roar Rookie
I forgot about Bergman in the list of 24 and Unders and Drew is 25. Dreaming is thinking the Hawks or the Cats will make the 8.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Dreaming!
Shane
Roar Rookie
Sydney’s under 24 year olds clearly better than Port’s Butters, Rozee, JHF, Houston, Williams, Georgiadis, Marshall and Lord? Not sure about that. Sydney will have a good team next year and they are my smokey for the premiership. We could see a Port/Sydney Grand Final which should have happened in 2014.
Ace
Roar Rookie
I'm in agreement Arges. Sydney have really strenghtened their on ball group with three experienced players. Take a lot of heat off Mills. Free up Papley to stay longer as a fwd. Their young key forwards have had a good grounding Plus a great body of young stars in Gulden, Heeney, Blakey, Warner and Florent What's not to like
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Huge statement, poor choice of words.
Arges Tuft
Roar Rookie
Sydney are a good footy club (all ways there abouts). With Adams and Grundy joining this team I wouldnt be suprised if they do win grand finals soon.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
No passion at all has old Donsy. Perfectly illustrated by the fact he first followed Geelong, then WC and then Fremantle! Hope he changes his underwear as often. as he changes clubs.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
No, he’s clearly intimating Sydney have no chance of winning a flag in the next 3 years, which is poppycock. The Bloods are certainly way closer than Freo in the flag race, without a doubt. And if anyone is a troll, it’s often Don. So when he trolls, myself and many others, like to call him out. But I don’t doubt he’s a passionate AFL follower, and I respect that …
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Plenty of players better than Taylor Adams have finished careers without premierships. I do get that Premiership is Holy Grail.... but unfulfilled if you don't get one, that's rough. I would of thought just making it to AFL was pretty fulfilling
JudgeMental
Roar Rookie
The Don didn't say that, Taylor Adams said he'd be a failure without a flag. I might call the bloke out if he says something I disagree with, but Don Freo actually paid Adams a compliment.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You missed the point of the article. Wake up and troll properly.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Don, he’d only be a failure if he went to Freo. Sydney clearly have the best list of U24 year olds and will be right up there when the whips are cracking next season. Freo will be much closer to the bottom 4 than the top 4, old boy, and you know it …