‘Sick of talking about it’: Swans’ vow after GF disaster… and new coach has already made changes

The Swans will be hoping there’s no leftover scars from a brutal Grand Final loss to Brisbane as they kickstart a new era in 2025 under Dean Cox.

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It was an otherwise dominant 2024 season for minor premier Sydney in long-time coach John Longmire’s final campaign at the helm before he handed over the reins to Cox to lead the perennially successful club and iconic ‘Bloods’ culture into the future.

Cox’s biggest challenge could well be ensuring this team still has the belief that made it such a force last year given that’s now two horror GF performances from three seasons.

It’s the sort of experience that could build — or break — character. Though it’d be brave to write off any side led by superstar midfield trio Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden.

Instead of dismissing last year’s decider as an off performance, the club went through an intense seven-and-a-half hour review of what went wrong on the opening day of pre-season.

That’s very much in line with Sydney’s strategy of staying connected out on the field by opening up with each other on exactly how they feel in certain moments.

“We definitely picked it apart, you’ve got to learn from these things. There’s no point it happening unless you learn from it,” Errol Gulden told foxfooty.com.au.

“I sound like a broken record, but that’s only one part of it. You can learn from it and sit here and talk about it, but until you go and action it and do something about it, it all counts for jack. That’s why we came back this pre-season and why we’re working hard, we want to write the wrongs.

“Pretty sick of talking about it, so it’d be good to change it with actions.”

After sitting on it all summer, the Swans don’t have to wait long now to respond the best way they can.

Sydney opens its season proper against Hawthorn next Friday night at the SCG, before Cox’s men get an opportunity for some level of revenge over Brisbane in Round 1, also at the SCG.

That’s two big opportunities for the Swans to make a statement that they’re ready to bounce back against two of the premiership favourites.

As tough as it was probing the Grand Final, it’s not something Warner is dwelling on.

“We picked it apart pretty hard. We reviewed the game and how we were feeling at each point of the game. Diving deeper and working out what the problems were,” Warner told foxfooty.com.au.

“It’s not something you can park, you’ve got to look at it.

“But the reality is it’s in the past and I think all the boys feel the exact same. I don’t reckon that Grand Final gives me any feelings at all now. That’s the great thing about AFL players, they’re so competitive and wat to move on to the next scenario and the next goal, which is this year.

“Obviously playing Brisbane here Round 1, a lot of people will say we want to get redemption and stuff like that. But it’s hard to get redemption in Round 1 compared to a Grand Final. We’ll definitely be trying to beat them no matter what though.”

Meanwhile Heeney conceded it was the toughest loss of his career, but had full faith that the club would be back bigger and stronger in 2025.

“It was obviously a tough one. It hit me – and I know it hit a few of the boys – harder than any other game has hit us. It was a tough one to get over and it did take a while, not going to lie,” Heeney told foxfooty.com.au.

“But I think the way we’ve come back pre-Christmas and post-Christmas has been something that has brought us closer to fuel that fire again. We’re excited to challenge ourselves. Opening Round against the Hawks then Brisbane Round 1. It’s going to be a cracker and looking forward to it.

“I know we’ll bounce back, we’ve got a great squad and tight-knit group. We’ll be right.”

In many ways having a new coach might be ideal timing, plus it’s a good refresh for the playing group and club as a whole given Longmire had been there since 2011.

It’s a fine line between not wanting to change too much given the Swans got so much right last year as the flag frontrunners for basically the entire season.

This is a young group primed to contend for many years to come, with its several key stars like Warner (23 years old), Gulden, Logan McDonald (both 22), James Rowbottom and Nick Blakey (both 24) still only coming towards their prime.

Perhaps pairing a rising side with a young, highly-regarded coach who’s established great relationships with those players during his seven seasons as an assistant is the best way forward.

And as consistent as this club has been — missing finals only twice in the last 15 seasons including seven top four finishes — Cox has wasted no time to change some things up.

“It’s been good, it’s has been different,” Blakey told foxfooty.com.au.

“‘Horse’ (Longmire) was an amazing coach and we were so lucky to have him. Now ‘Coxy’ has put his own spin on things, which is probably hard to do when someone as dominant as ‘Horse’ has been here. But he’s changed a few things and we’ve changed a bit how we want to play.

“It’s exciting times and the fans will be excited to see what’s changed, I’ve got no doubt they’ll pick up on some things. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

Only time will tell what those specific changes are.

But we got an early insight that Cox isn’t mucking around, welcoming the side back in 2025 with a brutal surprise — back-to-back 2km time trials taken out by Corey Warner and Gulden.

“It’s been good, it’s been different. A few fresh ideas in terms of game plan changes and a few things we wanted to implement, which as been really exciting,” Gulden said.

“A few mental challenges as well. I’m sure most people would’ve seen the back-to-back 2km runs and we had a session where all we did was run, there was no footys. Much the same as what ‘Horse’ brought but probably a few tweaks to the game plan.”

Warner, who faces a big contract call on his future beyond 2025 amid links to clubs from his home state Western Australian, said Cox was a “player favourite” and “good mate” as an assistant, but had already effectively “gained respect” stepping into the top job.

Heeney thinks having that balance is why Cox is poised to be a great senior coach.

“He’s unreal, I love ‘Coxy’, he’s got a great relationship with the fellas, just like ‘Horse’ did,” Heeney said.

“He knows when to be strict and bring the professional side, but also when to muck around and have a bit of fun. That’s why the boys love him. He’s tough.”

A stacked list with stars across the board still coming into its own and winning culture behind them, there’s plenty of reason for optimism that Sydney can avenge its recent failures on the big stage.

But any team that’s had those, as well as any team with a new coach, goes into a season with some level of uncertainty.

STRENGTHS

Superstar midfield. You watched Sydney last year, right? Need we say any more …? The Swans’ greatest asset and general point of difference was the dominance of superstar midfield trio Heeney, Warner and Gulden. They all made the All-Australian team and importantly combined for 84 goals. That’s the equivalent of a Coleman Medallist-calibre key forward. As long as that trio is intact and at its best, it’s tough to see the Swans losing many games. Brodie Grundy was also a great addition last season to give the club the gun ruckman its long lacked, plus don’t underestimate the importance of inside bull James Rowbotton.

WEAKNESSES

Key position personnel. There’s concerns around Sydney’s ability to stand up when the lights are at their brightest. But that’s between the ears and something you can only hope, for their sake, they amend. From a fundamental perspective, there’s still some question marks on the Swans’ key position personnel at either end of the ground. Joel Amartey (43 goals) and Logan McDonald (37 goals) both had great seasons, but are still raw and learning their craft. In defence, Tom McCartin is their most reliable tall, yet has been training with the forwards over the pre-season. That could leave a big responsibility on 34-year old Dane Rampe. They had interest in Tom Barrass before he made the call to move to Sydney in what could’ve been an ideal pickup. Not having skipper Callum Mills for the first few rounds of the season due to injury also isn’t ideal, though they got by without him for the majority of last year.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

(11pm). The Swans should lick their wounds and go again. Again, this is a club that go so much right last year and will be smarting from their Grand Final pain. You could argue they were ahead of their time despite also qualifying in 2022. The Swans remain set up to contend for silverware for the next several years, and given the age profile of its list, still has the potential to grow and get better.

PREDICTED LADDER RANGE

1st-4th

PREDICTED OPENING ROUND TEAM

B: D.Rampe, L.Melican, H.Cunningham

HB: M.Roberts, N.Blakey, O.Florent

C: E.Gulden, Ch.Warner, J.Jordon

HF: T.Papley, T.McCartin, A.Sheldrick

F: B. Campbell, J.Amartey, W.Hayward

FOLL: B.Grundy, I.Heeney, J.Rowbottom

I/C: T.Adams, J.Lloyd, J.McInerney, S.Wicks, B.Paton

EMG: Co.Warner, H.McLean, R.Fox