Sydney Swans forward line issues: How much are injuries contributing to slow start to season

Do the Swans need a forward line makeover, or do they just need to be patient and wait for their cavalry to return? Lachie McKirdy unpacks how Dean Cox tackles the Swans’ Achilles heel.

It’s the hot topic every time the Swans lose, and the one that goes quiet every time they secure victory: Does Dean Cox’s side require a forward line makeover?

After a 31-point defeat against Collingwood on Friday night, a depleted Swans side was left bitterly disappointed after a game where a lack of effort, not a lack of players, cost them.

Despite having one more inside 50 entry than the Pies, Sydney finished with 11 fewer scoring shots and four fewer goals. They also only took one contested mark for the match.

Hayden McLean finished with three goals against the Pies but could only do so much. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

INJURIES CONTINUE TO MOUNT

When a frustrated Joel Amartey came to the sidelines in the first half against Collingwood with a hamstring problem, it was the latest in a long line of injuries across the Swans’ opening five games of the season.

From the six players named in the Swans’ forward line for last year’s grand final, only one player is currently confirmed as available for this weekend against Port Adelaide: Will Hayward. Amartey, Tom Papley (heel), Errol Gulden (ankle) and Logan McDonald (ankle) are all at various stages of rehabilitation, while Luke Parker is now at North Melbourne.

Hayden McLean will now be tasked to lead the line alongside Hayward in a forward line filled with inexperience, especially if McDonald is not quite ready to return.

Another soft-tissue injury to Joel Amartey will force a forward-line rethink for Dean Cox. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I think you’ve got to be patient, but at the same time, I think the gap between our younger players and our VFL side … is really tightening,” Isaac Heeney said.

“Even though we didn’t play well on the weekend, we had some real key contributors in the younger fellas that are inexperienced against such a quality side. Patience is key … but we want to bring everyone along as fast as we can and be competitive every week.”

Those young players include mid-season draftee Tom Hanily, Academy product Caiden Cleary and Corey Warner, who continue to take strong steps in their progression. Cox reportedly singled those players out in their Monday review for their strong efforts against Collingwood.

“They’re just ripping in and doing the team thing,” Heeney said. “That’s all you can ask and when we do that as a team we’re hard to beat.”

The Swans have internally celebrated the output of teenager Tom Hanily who has impressed in his first year of AFL football. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Given the injury crisis, Cox has had to drill flexibility into his team. Tom McCartin spent the early rounds of the season in the forward line due to their lack of talls, and might be there again this Sunday after Amartey’s injury.

Chad Warner is also spending more time in the forward line as they try to get even more scoring output from the superstar.

“He’s obviously one of the best players in the competition, and when he’s at his best, he tears the game apart,” Heeney said. “Those sorts of players you want to keep in the front half and let him do his thing.”

But even with those changes, the Swans haven’t yet clicked. They had the number one attack last season, and although their key front three of Amartey, McLean, and McDonald are yet to play together in 2025, they haven’t looked like matching their output.

Chad Warner is spending more time forward of the ball, but he still looks most damaging when he’s transitioning through the midfield. Picture: Phil Hillyard

ATTACKING FROM THE BACK

The Swans were the best team in the AFL last season at scoring off their halfback line and making the most of their entries. To put it simply, their numbers haven’t gone close to those levels 12 months later.

They’re the third-worst team in the comp for scores per inside 50, while they rank 14th for their one-on-one win rate inside forward 50.

And despite all the talk of having to go after players like Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in the off-season to get a superstar back in the goalsquare, Sydney players know their best attacking moments start at the back.

“You need a balance of players contributing, and I think it starts with our defence,” Heeney said. “Our defence was poor on the weekend and we know when we get that right, our attack flows, so the boys can play off instinct.

Heeney believes the onus is on the team’s defence for the Swans’ attack to be able to click into gear. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’re going to need a step up from a lot of boys, seeing that we’re missing key players that kick our goals. I’m sure we’ve got the team that we can do it. But we need to do it as a team.”

They get a key contributor back against the Power in Justin McInerney, who is one of their best at generating score involvements. Their dynamic showing against North Melbourne also showed that Sydney can still be lethal when attacking in transition.

But with players like Gulden, Papley and Amartey all still out for a chunk of time, things will need to change. A tough three weeks await against Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and the Giants – and the key for Cox is making sure their season is still alive when the cavalry eventually returns.