The Swans were one of the stories of 2022, yet when it came to the biggest game of the year, they had nothing left in the tank. Unfortunately for them, the recent trend for teams who lose heavily in the Grand Final is not promising for their chances in season 2023.
Yet with a deep squad, an exciting blend of youth and experience and arguably the best club culture in the AFL, there's no doubting they'll be back at some stage soon, if not this season.
But the question being posed now by the brains trust at the Swans will surely be; where can we improve? A club that prides itself not only on their much-vaunted culture, but on their extraordinary ability to find value in the market via trade and free agency acquisitions.
Examples of shrewd recruiting can be found in their history going back at least two decades. Look no further than Paddy McCartin, thought to be lost to AFL football, he has a new lease on life and is playing excellent football for the 'Bloods'.
Yet for all their efforts, the work is never done and the Sydney hierarchy will know this, just as they know bouncing back from a heavy defeat on the last Saturday in September is a massive challenge.
Right now they'll be asking themselves where are their deficiencies and what should they be looking for to ensure they don't sacrifice everything to remain a genuine top-four contender for the coming seasons.
Ideally, as with most clubs, a key forward, a versatile ruck, a key defender and an elite wingman would be on the wish list. Yet the reasoning and thinking at Sydney is a bit different to most and they have frequently found alternative avenues to success.
See Also: If every AFL team could steal one player: Port Adelaide
With all of that in mind, we take a look at four prospects we believe could slot straight into this Sydney side with no strings attached.
Here are four options the Swans could 'steal'.
The exciting Blues youngster not only fills two needs, both as a tall forward to help replace Lance Franklin and as a ruckman to ease the burden on Tom Hickey, but he is also out of contract at the end of this season, making him a realistic option more than most.
While he's very much still a work in progress, the raw materials are unquestionably there and in a system like Sydney's, the likelihood of him reaching his potential increases exponentially.
The added benefit to young key forward Logan McDonald is plain to see, as opposition clubs would have multiple talls to contend with. While the Swans still have Franklin, Sam Reid and Hayden McLean to help McDonald, Franklin and Reid are both in the latter stages of their careers.
A player like De Koning, who can play in the ruck and up forward, offers youth and versatility, something the Swans would love to inject into their already well-balanced list.
De Koning's presence would not only take the pressure off Hickey, but likewise Peter Ladhams, who, while talented, has experienced mixed fortunes with injury and decision-making since his move to Sydney.
At just 23 years of age, De Koning is still a year or two away from his prime, yet already averaged 17.2 hit-outs, 2.6 marks and 2.3 inside 50's per game in 2022, numbers that would likely greatly increase upon in the coming years under the correct tutelage. Given the club resurrected Tom Hickey from the scrap heap, it's not hard to imagine them moulding De Koning into an elite ruck-forward.
As arguably the game's best wingman, Hugh McCluggage fits the ball for the Swans' current needs. Taking into consideration that he has much more to his game than just being an outside player, McCluggage could easily become a gun onballer given the opportunity, and at a club like the Swans, he would only excel.
He was incredibly stiff to miss an All-Australian selection in 2022, despite having a dominant season on the wing for the Lions. Averaging 24.7 disposals, 0.8 goals, 4.8 tackles, and 4.4 inside 50's per game, he elevated himself to a new level and cemented his status as an elite midfielder.
The Swans have a great blend of young midfielders to complement the likes of Luke Parker, Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney. While Chad Warner announced himself as a star of the competition in 2022, adding a player of the calibre of McCluggage would ease the pressure on him as one of the Swans' chief distributors by foot going inside 50.
While there are still great things expected of exciting youngsters Errol Gulden and Justin McInerney, an already-established star like McCluggage coming in would allow both breathing room to develop and afford the Swans the ability to cover for inconsistent performances from their still-developing fledglings.
The Swans have a couple of young key forwards in Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean, yet no team in the AFL is saying no to a player with the potential of Max King, or his brother Ben for that matter. King's chief strength is his athleticism and presence in the air, and on any given day he has a bag of goals in him.
With Buddy Franklin and Sam Reid ageing or succumbing to injury more often, the need for an aerial presence to help take the pressure off McDonald is crucial. While still young (22), King last year kicked 52 majors, having more than 90 shots at goal. Yes, his accuracy issues are a worry but a club like Sydney would have no qualms with poaching him and backing their coaching and development to correct them.
King's average of 2.4 goals and 5.2 marks a game in 2022 are bordering on elite and it's easy to imagine those numbers would improve drastically with the Swans' pinpoint delivery inside forward 50. With youth on their side, King and McDonald could combine to become one of the league's most devastating key forward duos.
See Also: If every AFL team could steal one player - Hawthorn
No club in the competition would decline the chance to poach King and a link-up with the Swans could be a match made in heaven. While Sydney would benefit from his aerial presence, having McDonald et al alongside him would likely see King excel without multiple defenders hanging off him or blocking his run at the ball, something he has to endure at the Saints each week.
Perhaps a left-field choice, Brandon Starcevich has come on in leaps and bounds in recent seasons as a lockdown defender capable of quelling the game's most dangerous mid-sized and small forwards. While he may not be a glamourous option, every team needs players willing to do the dirty work and the lockdown defender fits the mould perfectly.
He was arguably stiff to miss the 44-man All-Australian squad, having averaged 15.6 disposals, 6.0 intercepts, 4.8 marks and 2.1 tackles in season 2022. However, it was his one-on-one work which impressed most, with a contested defensive loss rate of just 13.8 per cent. That figure is a better return than the likes of Tom Stewart or Brayden Maynard.
That's not to say he's a better player than either of those two, merely it highlights how important he has become to the Lions and how he perhaps doesn't get the plaudits he deserves. He's the kind of no-frills player who would thrive in the famous 'Bloods' set-up.
With their senior leaders in defence in Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd now in the veteran category, Starcevich could continue to develop while learning from two of the best in the game before they retire and pass the torch.
It's the kind of forward-planning the Swans are renowned for and would ensure continuity of experience in their well-oiled defensive unit.