Opinion: Can The Swans Win The Flag?

Our AFL analyst has taken a look over the Sydney Swans outfit and has given us his thoughts on whether they can take the flag in 2023

The case for:

They are still a young team and have a number of young stars such as Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills. Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, Nick Blakey and Ollie Florent to name a few supplemented by the likes of Dane Rampe, Lance Franklin and Tom Papley plus the McCartin brothers. They have the 13th youngest squad in the competition and eighth in terms of average games. If tall forward Logan McDonald can come on they will be even better.

The case against:

Having played in the Grand Final they have a tough draw next year having to play Geelong, Richmond, Melbourne and Fremantle twice. Also they have queries in the big man departments in the ruck and with key forwards. Teams who get thrashed in Grand Finals, also tend to struggle the following year.

Strengths:

Just a stack of gifted footballers who know how to exert pressure and have the skill to hurt teams on the rebound. They’ve also got several sharp shooters led by Tom Papley.

They are still learning their craft and they are building as the last two years have shown.

Weaknesses:

There’s a reliance on Lance Franklin to win games for them and when he’s not moving well as he did in the Grand Final other teams can run off him. Sam Reid is also a talent but he is injury prone and can also be a wayward shot. They also lack a star ruckman.

• Prediction: Top eight – 5th to 8th.

Odds (TopSport)

• Premiers: $8.50
• Top 4: $2.60
• Finals: $1.40

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