After a disappointing conclusion to what was a sensational 2022 campaign, Sydney will be hoping to go one step further this year.
John Longmire's men managed to reach the season decider and fell to Geelong on the biggest of stages, but the result only had fans believing this group were destined for glory in the years to come, thanks largely to their youthful stocks.
The Swans backed in their core group over the off-season, bringing in just one experienced figure while the remainder of their list additions came through draft avenues.
Likely to see their most promising players reach new heights in 2023, the sky is the limit for the Swans this season.
Here we list five burning questions the Swans will hope to have answers for in 2023.
1. Will Sydney bounce back after a heavy grand final loss?
After an 81-point loss to Geelong in last year's decider, the obvious question that arises is; how will Sydney respond?
Such a damaging loss can do exactly that, damage a club, with previous examples showing us the impact a grand final drubbing can have.
In 2017, Adelaide lost to Richmond by 48 points, and since then, the club has spiralled badly in multiple facets on and off-field.
In 2019, GWS made their first decider but also lost to Richmond by 89 points, the third-biggest loss in a grand final. The following years saw them miss finals, make a semi-final and finish bottom three.
In 2021, the Western Bulldogs lost to Melbourne by 74 points, and the following season saw them lose in an elimination final, not as bad as previous teams, but a slide nonetheless. We wait and see what happens this year for the Dogs.
The Swans' loss last year was the fifth biggest ever in a grand final, but will we see a dramatic fall like teams of the past?
This Sydney team may be different.
Despite fielding a squad featuring established stars, John Longmire has a surplus of youth for selection, in fact, the Swans are the fifth youngest team in 2023.
Younger than rebuilding sides Gold Coast, GWS, North Melbourne, St Kilda and West Coast.
Perhaps they were ahead of themselves, but the experience put into the young players will hold them in good stead.
This isn't the first time Sydney was comfortably beaten in a grand final, you just have to go back to 2014, where they lost by 63 points and followed it up by making the top four the next year and another grand final berth in 2016.
It didn't bother them then, and it looks like it may not now. It would be a safe bet to say Sydney contends again very soon.
