AFL 2024: Taylor Adams compares Collingwood’s 2023 side with Sydney in early 2024

Sydney are right in the thick of premiership contention after six rounds and former Magpie Taylor Adams can see the similarities between the Swans and the Pies’ flag-winning season in 2023.

Two games into his Sydney career and Taylor Adams has hit the ground running. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Former Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams believes there are clear similarities between the premiership-winning Pies’ early form in 2023 and how the Swans have started their season.

Two games into his career with Sydney after making his debut in Gather Round, Adams was one of his side’s best in their impressive 53-point win over Gold Coast.

He had 10 disposals in the first quarter alone and finished the game with 11 contested possessions, six tackles and three clearances.

The Swans’ victory sent a message to their rivals that any talk of a form slump leading into the bye was far too premature, sitting second on the ladder with one loss after six rounds.

Collingwood also started last season 5-1 and only lost four more games for the year as they lifted the premiership.

Adams was in the thick of the action during the Swans’ 53-point win over Gold Coast. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“It was pretty funny actually,” Adams said. “It felt after the West Coast game when everyone started talking about how we were going, it felt a bit like the Pies last year.

“We had a bit of a slump period in the first third of the season and the rest is history.

“So the good teams are the ones that can identify what they’re not doing so well and then go out there and execute really strongly. I thought we did that today.

“I’ve always loved playing (at the SCG) as a rival, and I was really excited to finally play here today with the red and white on.

“There’s great history at this footy club. Even in the training room, some of the names on the lockers, mine has Gerard Healy and Jarrad McVeigh and you can’t help but be a little bit humbled by the people that have gone before you.”

Adams has had to be patient with his start to life in the red and white following a knee injury in the Swans’ final pre-season match. The lateral ligament strain kept him on the sidelines for the best part of a month, missing out on valuable bonding time with his teammates.

However, Sunday’s performance indicated that he was on the right path, and he’s looking forward to working his way gradually into Sydney’s star-studded midfield.

The 30-year-old has quickly got back to speed with the physicality of the AFL, finishing with six tackles. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I still am finding my feet,” Adams said. “I missed quite a bit of training when I hurt my knee so I feel like I’m a little bit behind the eight ball in terms of my conditioning.

“I felt a lot better (against Gold Coast). Two weeks ago was even harder and the bye came at a good time because I was able to get some training in.

“I’m just happy playing my role. I’m still a bit more forward at the moment until I get my legs underneath me. But we’ve got such a deep midfield this year – Errol, Chad, Heens, Rowie, Justin McInerney, James Jordon and we’ve still got Parks and Mills to come back in. Paps can go through there.

“We think that’s a competitive advantage for us being able to spin the wheels. We felt like we were able to run over the top of (the Suns) and that helps with our intensity and pressure around the ball.”

The tenacity that Adams brings without the ball was one of the key reasons he was brought to the club. John Longmire praised his ability to set the tone against Gold Coast and it’s clear that will only level up as he gets more games under his belt.

Adams was the first to get around his good mate Brodie Grundy after the ruckman’s first goal for the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Yet his experience across 13 years is set to prove invaluable for a Swans side full of rising stars. And while much was made of the games missing in the team early in the year, he believes they’re already well-placed to capitalise on their strong start to the season.

“I feel like experience is more beneficial throughout the week and out on the track, identifying what we didn’t do so well,” Adams said.

“We had a great week on the training track and we executed exactly what we trained during the week.

“I mean, you’ve got to have experience out there, particularly when you get challenged. But these boys are growing, most of them have played 70-80 games of footy together, Heens has obviously played a bit more.

“They’re still pretty young so there’s plenty of upside which is exciting.”