AFL previews 2021: Can Lance Franklin return to best for Sydney?

Wildly talented, Isaac Heeney has been touted as a future Swans’ captain. Could a new role help him shake off an injury-riddled 2020?

Sydney will be all smiles if it can get superstar Lance Franklin back to his best.

Is there a team in the AFL with a greater arsenal of young talent than Sydney?

After adding academy guns Braeden Campbell and Errol Gulden and boom WA forward Logan McDonald in the draft, John Longmire’s task to return the Swans to finals will be fuelled by a host of young guns.

That trio join top-10 draftee Dylan Stephens, Tom McCartin and Ollie Florent as possible Round 1 starters, underlining the depth of talent at Longmire’s disposal.

But perhaps the biggest question mark lies around the fitness of Lance Franklin.

The Swans become a very different prospect if their superstar returns to the field in 2021 at anywhere near his best.

Check out our full preview of Sydney’s prospects below.

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OFF-SEASON

INS: Tom Hickey (West Coast), Logan McDonald (pick 4), Braeden Campbell (pick 5), Errol Gulden (pick 32), Malachy Carruthers (rookie)

OUTS: Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide), Zac Foot, Michael Knoll, Jack Maibaum, Harry Reynolds, Brady Rowles, Ryley Stoddart, Elijah Taylor, Jackson Thurlow (delisted)

John Longmire is moulding a young team at Sydney with plenty of talent.

COACH STATUS:

John Longmire has another three seasons yet to run on his contract, giving him time to rejuvenate with a new generation of Swans. Sydney has finished in the bottom four in each of the past two campaigns but a swag of injuries has ensured he has given plenty of opportunities to youngsters to help prepare for the post-Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin eras. Next year will be Longmire’s 11th in charge, putting him behind only Hawthorn’s Alistair Clarkson, Richmond’s Damien Hardwick and Geelong’s Chris Scott in terms of games coached by 2021 club mentors. It is hard to see the Swans losing faith in Longmire, giving him time to steer the Sydney club back towards the top.

GAME PLAN:

Sydney tried to go quick and direct this year, boasting a high play-on rate, a low mark count and heavy use of the corridor. The Swans ranked No. 1 in the competition for corridor use from defensive 50 and was third in terms of percentage of kicking long. Its defence held up well, conceding the most inside 50s in the league but ranking 12th for points against. Its major issue is in the midfield. Sydney lost the contested possession count by an average of eight per game in 2020, ranking second-last in the competition. Its ground ball (15th), loose ball (16th) and clearance (16th) differentials were also a concern. The Swans will need to address this to climb up the ladder in 2021. They relied heavily on small forward Tom Papley to kick goals in the absence Lance Franklin, so will be looking at greater avenues in attack this coming season.

TRADE TABLE REPORT:

Sydney lost Aliir Aliir to Port Adelaide after the key defender sought the security of a four-year deal. The Swans received the Power’s 2021 second-round pick in return. It is a loss to the Swans no doubt, but they will rely on the continued improvement of Lewis Melican to fill that hole. With Sam Naismith recovering from an ACL, Sydney boosted its ruck stocks by adding Tom Hickey from West Coast for a swap of picks. Hickey’s arrival can’t come quick enough as it was a glaring shortfall during the 2020 season. The Swans gave up selections 58, 62, their 2021 third-round choice and Port’s 2021 second-rounder for Hickey, the Eagles’ picks 34 and 60 this year.

Aliir Aliir slipped through Sydney’s hands, joining Port Adelaide in the trade period.

THEIR 2020 DRAFT HAUL:

Sydney would be thrilled that West Australian spearhead Logan McDonald fell to it, given he was touted as a potential pick one going into the draft. Given the Swans are rejuvenating their squad and he finished second in the WAFL goalkicking, playing against men, McDonald should get plenty of opportunities next year. Campbell can also slot straight into the team, while the club will want to give Gulden a chance to show his footy smarts.

PLAYERS THEY CAN REINVENT:

The Callum Mills into a permanent midfielder conversation has become an annual event but it must be getting closer to happening. Taken at pick three in the 2013 draft, Mills has become a consistent player at halfback for the Swans, setting up play with his beautiful skills. Sydney has started to give newer faces, such as James Rowbottom and Ollie Florent, opportunities in the middle, but Mills’s composure under pressure and class should lead to him getting more time at the coalface. Isaac Heeney is multi-talented and equally as versatile. He was beginning to settle as a potent forward before injury wiped out season 2020. But maybe he is more valuable for the Swans floating through the midfield or even rebounding of halfback.

WA key forward Logan McDonald was Sydney’s first pick in the draft.

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP:

It feels like 2021 may be the year Nick Blakey turns into a genuine star of the competition. The Swans’ top pick of the 2018 draft has all the attributes to regularly have a big influence, including a strong mark, quality left-foot kick and pace. The return of Lance Franklin and addition of Logan McDonald to the forward line should help Blakey. Kicked 19 goals from 21 games in his debut campaign last year then 8.13 from 16 matches this past season. One poser for Sydney fans is where he plays. He was originally touted as a key forward, but the 195cm Blakey has the speed, smarts and a developing engine capable of pushing him through the midfield. That could be a role he becomes more accustomed of filling now that McDonald has arrived on the scene.

BEST 22 FOR NEXT SEASON:

B: Harry Cunningham, Dane Rampe, Jake Lloyd

HB: Jordan Dawson, Lewis Melican, Callum Mills

C: Ollie Florent, Josh Kennedy, Dylan Stephens

HF: Nick Blakey, Sam Reid, Isaac Heeney

F: Tom Papley, Lance Franklin, Logan McDonald

R: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, James Rowbottom

Int: Will Hayward, Braeden Campbell, Tom McCartin, George Hewett

CHAMPION DATA SAYS:

Good: The Swans held up defensively, conceding a goal from just 19% of their oppositions inside 50 entries – ranked third defensively.

Bad: Sydney’s midfield struggled, ranked 16th for clearance differential and 17th for contested possession differential.

FINISH THE LAST FIVE YEARS: 2016: 2nd, 2017: 5th, 2018: 7th, 2019: 15th, 2020: 16th

2021 TAB PREMIERSHIP ODDS: $81

Originally published as AFL previews 2021: Can Lance Franklin return to best for Sydney?