Lance Franklin is still the main reason to get excited about Sydney

If Lance Franklin can have an injury-free season, combined with the acquisition of Daniel Menzel and the continued improvement of the club’s youngsters, the Swans are capable of staying in the finals hunt.

Lance Franklin will be hoping for an injury-free year in 2019. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney is a team in transition but if Lance Franklin and Sam Reid can have injury-free seasons, combined with the acquisition of ex-Geelong goalkicker Daniel Menzel and the continued improvement of the club’s emerging youngsters, the Swans are capable of staying in the finals hunt.

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EIGHT REASONS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT SYDNEY

1. A FIT BUDDY

In July, Sydney coach John Longmire made the stunning admission that star forward Lance Franklin had “probably trained about 20 minutes for the season”. The reason was a heel injury that Franklin suffered in Round 1, which Longmire said challenged the two-time premiership player’s ability to get himself up to play each week. Franklin missed four games because of the injury but amazingly still kicked 57 goals from 19 games and was crowned All-Australian captain. However, we know the four-time Coleman Medal winner’s ceiling is much higher and the Swans will hope a return to fitness — and training — can deliver an even more stunning 2019.

Lance Franklin played hurt in 2018. Picture: Phil Hillyard

2. RISING RONKE

Who could forget small forward Ben Ronke’s third career game last season? On the big stage at the MCG on a Friday night against Hawthorn in Round 8, Ronke booted seven goals from 11 touches and logged 10 tackles to put his name up in lights and earn a Rising Star nomination. While the Victorian’s finish to the season was a little quieter — kicking just one goal from his final four games — the 21-year-old finished the campaign with 24 goals from 18 games and averaged 12.7 disposals and 3.9 tackles. The Swans will be hoping Ronke can find a bit more consistency and kick a few more goals next season.

3. SAM REID

Swingman Reid appeared finally to have got his body right when he played 22 games in 2017 but had another luckless year with injury. Reid played just one game, Round 3, in which he had 12 disposals, took six marks and kicked 2.2 — but suffering a quad tendon injury in the final minutes of the match. Reid made his return almost three months later in the NEAFL, only to suffer an achilles injury in the first five minutes which sidelined him for the rest of the season. The Swans value Reid’s versatility and marking ability and his return will be welcomed next season if he can get himself fit and find top form.

Sam Reid missed nearly all of the 2018 season but was close to returning during the Swans’ elimination final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

4. TOM McCARTIN

The Swans were crying out for a second marking forward to step up alongside Franklin at times last season and that player could be McCartin. The youngest player in the AFL in 2018, McCartin played 15 games as an 18-year-old. While he didn’t set a game alight, there were some encouraging performances from the brother of St Kilda’s Paddy. A second-round draft pick in 2017 who stands 192cm, McCartin continually earned praise from Longmire, who was often just looking for him to create a contest and bring the ball to ground. However, with some games under his belt, more will be expected next season.

5. FINALS RECORD

How could you not be excited about your team when it has a track record of making finals appearances as the Swans do? Sydney has played finals in the past seven seasons and in 13 of the past 14 years. Under Longmire since 2011, there have been three Grand Final appearances and one premiership, in 2012, among an overall winning percentage of 69.3 per cent. Even when they are tipped to fall down the ladder, the Swans seem to be able to find a way year in, year out.

6. SON OF A GUN

One of football’s greats, John Blakey sits 11th on the list for most VFL/AFL games played, having featured in 359 across 18 seasons with Fitzroy and North Melbourne and winning two premierships with the Kangaroos. It is therefore little surprise there has been a bit of hype around his son, Nick, who the Swans snapped up at No.10 in last month’s national draft. At 195cm, Blakey has primarily been a tall forward with a long, penetrating left-foot kick, but he has shown his ability in a range of positions. No stranger to the Swans, he has been a part of the club’s academy and his father serves as an assistant coach under Longmire. It should therefore be a fairly smooth transition to the big time and opportunities will come at some stage next season.

The Swans snapped up academy product Nick Blakey at the draft. Picture: Getty Images

7. YOUNG TALENT TIME

The Swans gave us a good glimpse of their long-term future last season in getting games into players such as Oliver Florent, Will Hayward and Ryley Stoddart, who all showed plenty. Florent won the club’s rising star award to cap a stunning second season in which he became a regular ball-winning midfielder across 23 games. Hayward, too, did not miss a game in what was also his second season, the medium-sized forward kicking 28 goals.

Stoddart showed a bit in two mid-season games before going on to play a key role in defence in the Swans’ NEAFL side in the back half of the year. With the Swans’ reputation for turning youngsters into dependable players, expect the trio to take further strides in 2019.

8. THE RECRUITS

The Swans were criticised for not doing enough during the trade period, maybe rightly so. However, they did pick up some players who could be handy. When fit, Daniel Menzel has been a 40-goal forward at Geelong and he could greatly help a Swans forward line that lacks firepower at times. Fellow former Cat Jackson Thurlow has struggled to string together regular senior appearances in recent years, but is a good size at 190cm and was picked at No.16 in the 2012 national draft, while ex-North Melbourne midfielder Ryan Clarke had been on Sydney’s radar for some time.

Daniel Menzel will add much-needed firepower for the Swans. Picture: AAP

WHAT CHAMPION DATA SAYS: The Swans have the 13th rated list with the biggest concern around their midfield, which is rated also 13th, with only Isaac Heeney and Luke Parker ranked in the top 50 per cent. Sydney is the fourth-youngest list for 2019.

TAB ODDS

Premiership: $21

Top-8: $1.90

Most losses: $51

TRAJECTORY

2014: 1st (17-5, runner-up)

2015: 4th (16-6, semi-final)

2016: 1st (17-5, runner-up)

2017: 6th (14-8, semi-final)

2018: 6th (14-8, elimination final)