The Swans are flying like early 2024, but are they built to finish?

In 2024 Dean Cox was working as an assistant coach under John Longmire when the Swans lost the premiership many thought they should have won.

It was the season they won nine of their first 10 matches, and looked unstoppable, spearheaded by their three midfield stars, Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Chad Warner. They were on track to deliver an 11th top-flight flag since the foundation of the South Melbourne Swans in 1874.

However, by the final siren on grand final day, the Swans had lost by 60 points at the MCG against a rampant Brisbane. In 2026, the Swans are similarly impressive at the early part of the season, having lost once in their opening eight rounds. Have they learned their lessons from two years ago?

“We always look at past experiences, but for me, it’s about we’re a completely different group and we’re playing a completely different way,” Cox, who took over from Longmire as head coach at the end of 2024, said this week ahead of Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Moving beyond the holy midfield trinity

By the latter stages of the 2024 season, the Swans had gained a reputation for stunning comebacks, led by Heeney, Gulden and Warner. While each player was outstanding and the football was thrilling, it built an unfair reliance on the trio.

Last year, the Swans floundered without Gulden, who returned in round 15 after recovering from ankle surgery. This season, Gulden is sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, and while the Swans will miss a player of his quality, they have successfully adjusted with Justin McInerney stepping up.

In Gulden’s absence, McInerney has averaged a career-best 21.5 disposals and in Sunday’s win against Melbourne, the midfielder finished with 29.

According to Champion Data, McInerney is averaging 9.5 score involvements per game, ranking him second in the AFL and 67 per cent of his kicks inside 50 are retained, again placing him second in the competition.

Gulden is back running at training and will slot into the Swans’ midfield when fit, but the greatest compliment to the team is that they are humming along without one of the best ball users in the game.

A balance of goal kickers

Two years ago, the Swans badly missed a target at full forward after the retirement of Lance Franklin. By the end of 2024, the numbers highlighted the Swans lack of firepower up front: Joel Amartey and Tom Papley each kicked 1.7 goals per game, and now Carlton player Will Hayward finished with 1.6 goals per match.

Charlie Curnow’s recruitment from the Blues has given the Swans a dominant full forward they needed. He attracts the opposition’s best defender, giving space for others to thrive. Amartey is in the last year of his contract and playing like it, averaging 2.5 goals a year, the same as Curnow.

The form of Malcolm Rosas jnr also highlights Sydney’s greater balance in the forward line, kicking seven goals against Melbourne. Rosas jnr managed five games for the Gold Coast Suns last year, but this season with the Swans he has doubled not only as a goal kicker, but as a relentless runner who drives pressure from the front.

Logan McDonald missed all of last season due to injury and is averaging 1.5 goals per game this year, establishing himself as a reliable tall forward alongside Curnow and Amartey. Papley, Heeney and Warner each have 10 goals for the year showcasing the range of goal kickers in the team that extends far beyond Curnow.

Reliance on one ruckman

While the Swans have been able to create balance across their team in terms of the midfield and a forward threat, their continued reliance on Brodie Grundy as a ruckman is concerning, as it was two years ago.

Coach Cox is one of the game’s greatest rucks and is actively managing Grundy’s training load and despite deputy Peter Ladhams’ lack of opportunities this season, Cox is confident he can step up when needed.

“I think it’s tough to play the level that Brodie’s playing at, but what Pete has been doing at VFL has been nothing short of exceptional, he’s been one of our most dominant players every week there,” Cox said.

“When the opportunity presents itself, whether it’s to share [ruck duties] or to do by himself, I have no doubt he’ll be ready for it.”

On most markers, Grundy is having an outstanding season. Grundy has 102 hitouts to advantage, with the next ruckman, Adelaide’s Lachlan McAndrew on 77. The contrast with McAndrew is significant, given he was delisted at the end of the 2024 season by Sydney and would have been the ideal foil to Grundy.

Instead, the Swans are faced with few options behind Grundy if the veteran gets injured.

Grundy’s strength is not simply in hitouts, it is his ability to act as an auxiliary midfielder and follow-up the play. After playing his 250th game for the Swans against Melbourne, there needs to be a contingency plan built around Grundy urgently.

Defensive balance

The Swans are benefiting from the continued fitness and leadership of their captain Callum Mills in defence, something they have lacked for the last two seasons.

Against Melbourne, the Swans missed the injured Tom McCartin in the backline, but Mills’ calm leadership was noticeable.

Mills hasn’t missed a game this season, after playing seven in 2024 and 12 in 2025 due to injury. The 29-year-old can also act as an onfield defence coach for rookie Swans academy product William Edwards while also commanding the football; against Melbourne Mills finished with 29 disposals.

“The best part about having Callum back is his ability to be able to set up behind the ball, put his teammates in the positions that they need to do, and then to execute his role,” Cox said.

“He complements our back line really well and it’s not just about our back six, it’s also the way we defend the whole ground.”