Another season, another prediction of sliding away – and once again the Sydney Swans are defying the experts.
Granted, the season is only at Round 4, however the signs for the red and white are extremely positive – off the field, as well as on.
After three rounds the Swans have all but halved their premiership odds from $12 (Round 1 price) to $6.50, and sit undefeated at the top of the ladder. The Adelaide Crows, away, will be a huge test this weekend, but it’s a remarkable early season turn around.
The $12 price tag suggested the Swans, with their young list were a bit of an unknown.
Last season an injury affected and unsettled Sydney crashed out the finals in straight sets. They then lost experienced players of the ilk of Adam Goodes, Mike Pyke, and Rhyce Shaw, with Lewis Jetta being traded to West Coast Eagles for Callum Sinclair.
Then there was uncertainty over Lance Franklin’s headspace.
So far there have been few worries for the Swans. Sinclair has slotted into the team like he has always been there. Former Western Bulldog, Michael Talia, looked great before his unlucky injury (against Collingwood). New kids Callum Mills, Tom Papley and George Hewett have been playing like seasoned veterans.
Coach John Longmire has the team playing a corridor-attacking brand of footy, and the midfielders look as strong and fit as they have ever done. Luke Parker is already in Brownlow form, and Sydney’s famous stingy and suffocating defence has returned.
The Swans have also enjoyed the welcome return of a healthy spread of goal kickers, not seen since 2012. And to think they won the flag without a forward line – go figure?
The announcement the club had reached 50,000 members for the first time in their history, combined with encouraging early season form, is huge. Sydney is on the up. This, on the back of a huge 37,045 crowd for the Sydney Derby at the SCG, is a massive boost for the club.
Since the 2012 premiership the club has experienced a rapid membership growth.
It was incredible being at the game and seeing the SCG nearly filled to the brim with red and white. While there was a reasonable amount of orange for GWS, the Giants certainly sensed a baying for an orange crush.
It’s worth noting no NRL Sydney based club gets any where near those numbers in terms of memberships.
The Swans membership is well-represented interstate. From their original South Melbourne base, keep in mind, 20 years ago the club had 9,525 members.
Despite reaching a club high of 31,175 members in 1999, the numbers had fluctuated and with barely 25,000 members in its premiership year in 2005.
For Sydney to rise from 29,873 members in 2012 to hit 50,000 is a real head turner.
The club is fulfilling its potential, and what is remarkable is they have continued to rise, despite challenges and sudden rule changes, which seemed designed to weaken them.
With the phasing out of the Cost of Living Allowance, unfair and inexplicable trade bans, a complicated points system in the draft for recruiting players from the academy, so far, the Swans have risen above it all. It hasn’t slowed the club down at all.
It was believed the phasing back of the COLA would suddenly make it hard to retain players. The signing’s of Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett to such huge deals was supposed to create a mass exodus.
Franklin, who is in ominous form, is into his third season and Tippett has signed a new deal, which should see him finish his career as a Swan.
Luke Parker, Zak Jones, and Daniel Hannebery have all signed new deals. Swans ball magnet Tom Mitchell has declared his desire to stay in the Harbour City. The club also has long term plans for academy recruits Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills.
No doubt Sydney will have to offload players, as they can’t keep them all, yet the Swans have been known for many years for their recruiting prowess.
What is even more intriguing is the club’s Blood’s culture seems to continue to be a lure. Swans co-skipper Jarrad McVeigh hinted there were more “well known” players who wanted to join the club, but couldn’t because of the trade ban.
COLA or no COLA, it’s “the vibe of thing” that counts, and the vibe is good.
The Sydney Swans just keep on, keeping on.
The club is not going to slide any time soon.
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