The forward line

This was Sydney’s first season since the retirement of Lance Franklin, who obviously could not be replaced by a single player – and so the Swans went into 2024 with a three-pronged forward line. But there were always doubts over their quality, whether they had enough top-end talent in that part of the field, and whether they were too tall overall. McDonald, 22, Joel Amartey, 25, and Hayden McLean, 25, had their moments throughout the season, but failed to deliver when it mattered – and compared to their Lions counterparts, their lack of dynamism was obvious.

Sure, key forwards take a long time to develop, but the Swans needed more out of these players on grand final day – and sure, they didn’t get much service from a badly beaten midfield, but there were moments in which their teammates looked keen to take any option aside from kicking the ball to them.

As for Tom Papley, who was also well below his best, it felt like footy karma caught up with him.

Coaching, strategy and mentality

As good as John Longmire is and has been for this club, there is just no getting around the fact that the Swans have now lost four straight grand finals under him, and the last two by enormous margins. The playing group has changed; he is the common denominator. It’s not all his fault, of course – his players simply weren’t hard enough in the contest against Brisbane – but some of it might be, and the way they prepared mentally and approached the game tactically has to come under scrutiny.

Again, it’s hard to talk in definitives, but we can safely say one of two things happened: either Longmire’s strategy to nullify Brisbane’s kick-mark game failed, or his strategy was correct, but his players failed to execute on the day. Either way, the responsibility falls on him. How could they turn up with the same lack of intensity and pressure as two years ago?

Longmire is only contracted through to the end of 2025, and AFL clubs typically try to avoid going into a season with a question mark over the tenure of their head coach. While chairman Andrew Pridham has said Longmire has the job for as long as he wants it, the 53-year-old is said to be wrestling with his future, unsure of what he wants to do beyond next year.

It might also be time for the Swans to wrestle with theirs, and ask themselves the hard question: is Longmire the man who can take them to the ultimate glory? The answer might very well be yes, but there surely needs to be some changes – perhaps some new assistant coaches, perhaps a new game plan, perhaps an external review to determine where the problems really lay.

The playing list

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Exit meetings loom for Swans players this week, and there will be some interesting conversations to be had at the Royal Hall of Industries. The most pressing revolves around former co-captain Luke Parker, 31, who has done little to douse ongoing speculation that he could finish his career at North Melbourne. Parker’s stats sheet was enhanced by his three junk-time goals in the final quarter, but since breaking back into Sydney’s best 23 after his injury and suspension woes, he has more than proved his worth. It’d be a fair blow to lose such a heart and soul player.

Chad Warner is also entering the final year of his contract, which means Sydney’s next steps as a club will be clouded by the conversation over his future, with the two WA clubs keen to lure him home.

With trade period coming up, will the Swans try to bring in more attacking quality? Another key defender, with Dane Rampe turning 35 next year? They remain a couple of important puzzle pieces away from being a premiership team. Do they have the salary cap room to move for them, particularly with Warner needing to be re-signed? Only they know.

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