Fresh off their latest grand final heartbreak, Sydney has turned their attention to the off-season, where the draft presents another exciting window for the club to add new top-line talent to their burgeoning list.
Following a trade in 2023, the Swans have access to two first-round draft selections for this year's count while also carrying North Melbourne's third-round selection on top of their own.
The Swans have proven to find diamonds in the rough in years gone by and will hope to secure a similar fate with their two later picks this year, while their earlier selections have borne less fruit in recent years.
Here's how Sydney could attack this month's draft with the picks at their disposal and the potential list needs they may opt to fill.
Picks: 19, 22, 44, 59
Sydney's trade with North Melbourne 12 months ago that saw Dylan Stephens depart for Arden Street has given the Roos a second shot for the opening round of this year's draft, with Pick 22 set to follow their own first-round selection of Pick 19.
The pair of selections for night one of this year's draft sees the Swans sit among four other sides with multiple first-round picks for 2024, a position that places the New South Wales club in a solid position given the strength of this year's draft crop.
The Swans could pair their selections together and look to move up the draft board via a live trade. However, they'll likely be satisfied with taking their two early selections and adding to their pair of first-round picks from last year.
The Swans' following selection - Pick 44 - should see them swoop on another player from the open talent pool, while Pick 59 could be used to attain Swans Academy talent, Joel Cochran.
Best Available: A tried and true strategy the Swans have used under list and recruitment boss Kinnear Beatson during his time leading the club's squad strategies. When on the clock, Beatson and his team are known to take the name atop their list instead of placing a great deal of focus on list needs. It's an avenue they'll likely take again this year, with their two first-round picks hoping to see a highly-placed name slide to their opening selection, with another chance on the board falling just three spots later.
Tall Emerging Talent: If we assess the gaps that could be filled in Sydney's squad, more key position talent might be an area of focus come draft night. The Swans have a trio of tall forwards who have room to grow, but further competition from their emerging ranks is always healthy. At the other end of the ground, the Swans have needed a new key defender for some time and may view this year's intake as the time to strike. 2023 recruit Joel Haling has transitioned to attack, while swingman Aaron Francis is yet to fire in either role.
Ground-Level Attackers: While the Swans are home to one of the best small forwards in the competition in Tom Papley, they may look to add some more front-half spark following the departure of uncapped first-round selection Jacob Konstanty and veteran Luke Parker over the off-season. 2024 saw John Longmire afforded the luxury to rely on his midfield stars for further scoreboard impact, with little return coming from the likes of Sam Wicks, Justin McInerney and Taylor Adams. A new small forward isn't an immediate list need but could be beneficial for the club in the long haul as Papley enters his late 20s.
Jesse Dattoli: The Northern Knights midfield-forward is a cunning and crafty front-half threat who is damaging with each and every possession. Dattoli could fetch a bid at the draft in the later stages of the first round, with Sydney primed to potentially use one of their two selections on the Heidelberg junior. Dattoli often managed to make something out of nothing with his creativity and attacking prowess for the Knights this year while also showing an ability to play further up the field when required for Vic Metro. He could be a perfect addition to wait in the wings and learn from the aforementioned Papley in the years to come. Other options for the Swans to consider would be AFL Academy ace Taj Hotton, Vic Country goalsneak Joe Berry or Dandenong Stingrays co-captain Cooper Hynes.
Matt Whitlock: A tall utility at 198cm, the Murray Bushrangers talent had an exceptional draft campaign, managing to kick 29 goals in the Talent League - the equal third most in the competition - while being named in the backline for the Team of the Year, proving his versatility as a pure swingman option. For Vic Country, Whitlock held his own in defence and flexed his aerial dominance while still managing to get forward and contribute on the scoreboard. The Shepparton product could be a good fit for the Swans given their potential desire for taller talent and Whitlock's versatility, with fellow AFL Academy member Luke Trainor or Whitlock's twin brother, Jack, others for Sydney to assess in the first round should they be available.
Joel Cochran: A teenager tied to the Swans via their Academy, the 194cm defender is an athletically gifted prospect who is in line to continue his pathways in the red and white via this year's draft window. Cochran earned an invite to the AFL Academy for 2024 and would go on to have a solid season across further commitments with the Allies, Swans Academy and Sydney's VFL side, making his debut at the latter level for a solid return of 16 disposals and five marks against Collingwood in August. He would cap off a promising year by taking out the 2km time trial at the AFL Draft Combine and also finishing strongly in the running vertical leap test.