Veteran Sydney Swans senior coach John Longmire has reflected on his club's handling of last year's player movement period, preaching the 'importance' of a balanced approach.
The Harbour City club attained ex-Collingwood pair Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams, as well as former Demon James Jordon and 2016 premiership Bulldog Joel Hamling during October's free agency and trade window.
Having bolstered their burgeoning squad, Sydney will look to build off a 2023 campaign that concluded heartbreakingly; falling to the Blues in an elimination thriller in September.
While the Swans qualified for finals football last year, their season, on the whole, was disappointing when taking into consideration their aspirations to return to the grand final scene after getting demolished by Geelong in 2022's big dance.
"It's pretty hard I guess after Lance Franklin retired," Longmire said of re-tooling the club's list, via News Corp.
"But I think the reality is we've got some good players in. We were still able to bring four 18-year-olds in, and the year before, we were able to bring in more 18-year-olds off the back of a young team playing in a grand final."
At November's intake of young talent, Sydney introduced Academy graduates Caiden Cleary and Indhi Kirk, developmental ruckman Will Green, and forward Patrick Snell.
"It was important to look after the now, but also the future," Longmire continued. "We kept our future first [-round pick] and gained North Melbourne's (end of first round) compensation pick.
"The fortunate thing is that those guys who we brought in from other clubs all bring in something different and unique, both in a positional sense, but also just their experience.
"I think that's good for the players we'll put on our list."
Speaking on the immediate impact his quartet of marquee recruits had, Longmire declared they'd made an impression.
"I have (been impressed)," the Swans mentor stated. "For the first period in a while, we were able to be active in that space and bring in a number of different players, which adds to the group that we're confident in.
"It's great to see Brodie (Grundy) just running around, a big fella in the ruck ... Brodie has come up here and had a big presence in pre-season, which has been awesome."
Grundy's former Collingwood teammate Adams has also flexed his muscle, according to Longmire, as have Hamling and Jordon.
"Taylor has come in and [shown] the experience and knowledge that he's got and trains at a high intensity. Those guys both do," he said.
"We've been impressed by Joel (Hamling) who's come in from a vast amount of experience at different clubs and he's got a real knack for helping younger players.
"James (Jordon) has [also] come from a great program and has had a bit of experience at finals level and in a grand final. So, I think all of them help add something and bring something unique that they're good at."
The Swans, new additions in tow, are scheduled to open their pre-season account against cross-town rivals GWS on February 22.