Sydney are again primed for a premiership push despite their coaching change, with Dean Cox inheriting a lethal squad that will again be favoured as a flag chance.

The Swans came mightily close to snapping their premiership drought last year, being the best side throughout the home and away season before struggling to replicate their regular season form on the biggest of stages.

The New South Wales side is home to some of the game's best across all three lines of the field, with most of their leading names only just scratching the surface.

Here we assess Sydney's 2025 squad and select a best 23 outfit ahead of the new season.

Our Best 23 for 2025 series will include players unavailable for the start of the season, except for those expected to miss most or all of the season through injury or suspension.

Defenders

Perhaps the weakness in Sydney's star-studded squad, with the Swans' rearguard ranking seventh in the competition last year.

Despite the concern, Dean Cox will have All-Australian calibre talent in defence, with dashing backman Nick Blakey the leading man on the last line.

His run and burst - coupled with an ability to be impactful in the air - makes Blakey one of the most damaging defenders in the competition.

Veteran defender Jake Lloyd and flank trio Matt Roberts Ollie Florent and Braeden Campbell also offer some run from the backline, with fringe duo Harry Cunningham and Robbie Fox often fighting for spots too.

Tom McCartin is arguably the Swans' most important player, holding down a key position role in the backline and often in need of further support.

Lewis Melican stood tall in 2024 to enjoy a career-best year, with leader Dane Rampe also an accountable asset who can play on tall and small opposition threats.

The Swans have Aaron Francis and Joel Hamling as depth options if needed, while former Saint Ben Paton has linked up with the New South Wales side and could be utilised as a lockdown small.

Midfielders

The Swans bat exceptionally deep in the engine room but are also led by a handful of the game's best midfielders.

Isaac Heeney was arguably the competition's premier player in 2024, with the high-impact ball winner having a stellar season as the centrepiece under John Longmire.

Heeney was one of three Sydney players to finish in the top 10 for the Brownlow Medal last year, with Errol Gulden and Chad Warner also polling at least 25 votes to cap off dominant campaigns.

The midfield trio were workhorses in 2024 and earned strong returns in attack to record more than 70 goals between them for the year.

Add in defensive-minded onballer James Rowbottom's career-best year and the full-time return of Callum Mills, and the Swans' midfield contingent is hard to trump.

Gulden will slot onto a wing role with Braeden Campbell and Justin McInerney fighting for similar duties, while forward Tom Papley and tagger James Jordon should also get rotations through the middle.

The cherry on top is star ruckman Brodie Grundy, who returned to near career-best form in his first season in the red and white, giving silver service to his new brigade of ball winners.

Fellow ex-Pie Taylor Adams will hope for a larger role in 2025 given the absence of Luke Parker, however young onballers Angus Sheldrick and Caiden Cleary will have similar plans in mind.

Forwards

Sydney's front third is home to a high-upside trio of talls in Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean, who combined for 107 goals in 2024.

Amartey claimed the club's leading goalkicker gong with 43 majors while McDonald continued to grow as an emerging target ready to spearhead Dean Cox's attack.

Lively half-forward Will Hayward also enjoyed a career-best season, going past 40 goals for the first time in his eight-year stint with the Swans to be a lethal threat for the opposition given his mix of power and leaping ability.

Small forward Tom Papley is perhaps the Swans' best in attack however, with his ground-level work and speed a headache for his direct opponent, while Papley can also shift to a role further up the field.

Sam Wicks will be hoping to partner Papley in the front third after struggling to cement his role last year, while Justin McInerney and James Jordon are likely to find themselves forward of the ball at times in 2025.

Former Docker Joel Hamling has proven to be a handful for VFL defenders since swapping to Sydney and could add some selection pressure on the senior side, with swingman Aaron Francis another forward to consider.

Best 23

FB: Jake Lloyd, Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe
HB: Callum Mills, Lewis Melican, Nick Blakey
C: Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, Braeden Campbell
HF: Will Hayward, Joel Amartey, James Jordon
FF: Hayden McLean, Logan McDonald, Tom Papley
FO: Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Matthew Roberts, Justin McInerney, Taylor Adams, Oliver Florent
SUB: Harry Cunningham

Others to consider: Robbie Fox, Aaron Francis, Sam Wicks, Angus Sheldrick, Ben Paton, Peter Ladhams, Joel Hamling, Caiden Cleary, Corey Warner