Dean Cox and Sydney legends reflect on classic 2005 grand final

Sydney coach Dean Cox — and some of his ‘05 rivals — discuss his journey from West Coast ‘enemy’ to the man in charge and reflect on the iconic grand final decided by that Leo Barry mark.

It’s the mark that has been replayed hundreds of thousands of times over the past 20 years.

Whether it’s included in a highlight reel or a promotional package, the sight of Leo Barry flying through the air in the back pocket of the MCG, taking a grab that would end a 72-year premiership drought, is one of the most iconic Aussie rules moments of all time.

For many, that clip is the lasting memory of the 2005 grand final, which saw the Swans win their first premiership since moving to Sydney. Images and footage of the mark sit pride of place in the Swans’ HQ, with Stephen Quartermain’s famous commentary even echoing out from their newly-built museum.

That means that anyone who walks through the centre’s doors can be greeted with a flashback at any moment. Unfortunately, that includes now Swans coach, and former West Coast ruckman, Dean Cox, who was the man who kicked the ball that Barry eventually marked.

Leo Barry gets in front of the pack to take the matchwinning mark in the grand final. Picture: Craig Barrow

Cox leaves Tadhg Kennelly in his wake as he kicks a goal in the ‘05 grand final. Picture: Colleen Petch

“I’ve seen it probably a thousand times now,” Cox concedes.

Even as he tries to argue that Tadhg Kennelly should have been penalised for holding in the marking contest – which he probably has a case for – it’s a moment Cox can’t help to marvel.

“That mark was a phenomenal mark,” Cox said. “To come from the side to take the grab, we had just played kick to kick for a little bit and unfortunately at the wrong stage.

“It’s one of those moments that if you had it again, what would you have done differently? I knew there wasn’t long and it would have really hurt if you ended up getting caught with the ball there when the siren goes and you’re too far out to score.”

THE SWANS-EAGLES RIVALRY

When Cox first flew east to take on the assistant coaching role at the Swans, he knew he was flying straight into a group filled with some of the biggest rivals from his playing days.

While guys like Kennelly are no longer working with the club, he now leads a coaching group that includes Sydney 2005 premiership stars Brett Kirk, Ben Matthews and Amon Buchanan.

Nick Davis is also a part of the women’s coaching program and reportedly appears any time his semi-final heroics against Geelong appear on a screen.

But no matter who you ask in the footy world, there is an inherent level of respect for the rivalry the Swans and Eagles forged during the 2000s and the football they produced as a result.

“Whenever we came up against West Coast, it was all about how we could restrict Coxy’s influence, and with his midfield group, that was a challenge,” Kirk said.

Added Buchanan: “We knew when we were going to play West Coast that it would be tight. You knew that if you were up by four or five, they’d come back.

“There was just this kind of freakish two to three years where we were just neck and neck for the whole game.”

Cox attempts to corral Kirk during their playing days. Picture: Michael Klein

It was always going to be a tough task for Cox to walk into a staff filled with players he used to jostle with on the field. He admitted as much himself when he took over from John Longmire, conceding he arrived in Sydney as “the enemy”.

And although his kick to Barry in the ‘05 grand final might get brought up over a few beers every now and then, it has also helped forge incredible coaching relationships and off-field friendships.

“Once you are here within the four walls, you are a Swans’ person,” Cox said. “You’re welcomed with open arms, no matter where you’ve come from or how you got here.

“I had a huge amount of respect for all the players in the club. So the decision to come here, although a hard one at the time, was quite an easy one when I knew I had to move.

“They throw a bit of banter, and you can throw it back, knowing that you got them the following year. If it was 0-2, it might be a bit different. But I think we probably deserve one each.”

Kirk added: “Probably after a couple of beers out together, there might be something to talk about. (Amon’s) pretty cheeky, so I can imagine he would mention it.

“I’ve loved getting to know Coxy. He’s the type of guy you would love to play with, and love to have a beer with afterwards.”

Buchanan (R) has been tipped as the one player who might have thrown a verbal barb or two at Cox about the ‘05 premiership. Picture: Ian Munro

COACHING INFLUENCE

One of the notions regularly brought up around the Swans’ ‘05 triumph, and now criticised during their current struggles 20 years later, is the Bloods’ culture.

Brought in by Stuart Maxfield and Paul Roos in the early 2000s, it’s the identity the Swans wanted to forge that instilled a never-say-die attitude into any player that stepped onto the field.

And particularly for Cox, it has helped having so many players who were a part of that era assisting him during his first year as head coach.

“The great thing is, whether it’s development coaches, head of welfare, people in the program have spent a long time in this football club,” Cox said. “The Bloods culture, it’s always spoken about externally, but once you get to the club, you understand it. It’s the people, how they treat each other, and the workplace they create.”

Once great rivals, Kirk and Cox are now part of the coaching group trying to deliver the Swans their next premiership. Picture: Phil Hillyard

However, one of the major elements of Bloods football in the 2000s was their defensive focus.

Although then AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou described the gamestyle as “unattractive”, it was the Swans who ultimately had the last laugh when Roos lifted the premiership cup.

“Paul was a great leader of people and definitely used that narrative as fire,” Kirk said. “It was us against the world and that worked, our style of play was backs against the wall, keep fighting, grit, resilience and keep getting up.

“You compare both Swans and West Coast. I think I might have said we were the Cortinas and they were the Lamborghinis. We just had some grinders. We had Goodsey who was super talented, and the rest of us just had a crack, worked hard and that’s what got us over the wall.”

Seeing that formula up close undoubtedly had an impact on Cox’s coaching philosophy. Before a ball had been bounced in 2025, he outlined that he wanted the Swans to be a defensively strong team first, with everything else to follow.

Cox is confident that the plan he has in place for the team, partly inspired by the Swans and Eagles’ 2000s battles, will eventually lead them to success. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It hasn’t exactly gone to plan yet for Cox. Injuries ruined any chance of a clean start to the year, while at stages their effort and contest has been left wanting.

But as the Swans prepare to celebrate their 2005 premiership team this weekend, he knows they could use a bit of that Bloods spirit to try and keep their season alive.

“You saw what Sydney were able to do with defence and contest in 2005, they really equalised the game,” Cox said.

“I think most sides across the world, they’re really strong defensively and get their attack off that, to be able to counter, not rely on one thing.

“That’s something that I’m trying to instil in the playing group. It has its teething problems, but when we get it right it looks pretty good.

“Certainly with the current group of players, there’s a part of it you’ll always carry. But they have the opportunity now to create their own Bloods’ culture, and still honour the past, but respect what they want to do going forward.”

Originally published as Dean Cox and Sydney legends reflect on classic 2005 grand final