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COACH
Paul Roos has been a revelation in his second season after taking over in Round 13 last year. Most pundits tipped Sydney for the wooden spoon, but Roos won plaudits for the Swans' free-running and challenging style. 9/10
DEFENCE
Few big names, but they knitted well and rarely conceded big scores. The running Leo Barry was excellent across half-back. The improvement of Craig Bolton was crucial as was the experience of Andrew Schauble. 8/10
MIDFIELD
The combination of veterans Paul Williams, Daryn Cresswell and Stuart Maxfield, the dash of Tadhg Kennelly, either on the wing or from down back, on top of Adam Goodes' ruck mobility, gave Sydney plenty of drive. Brett Kirk, Jared Crouch and Jude Bolton provided the hardness. 8/10
RUCK STRENGTH
Jason Ball turns 31 in November and Goodes needs greater support. Time is running out for the injury-stricken Stephen Doyle. Lewis Roberts-Thomson is a likely type but eventually is expected to fill a tall defender role. 7/10
FORWARDS
Barry Hall provided consistent target and has taken his game to a new level showing greater discipline. Michael O'Loughlin's brilliant cameos occurred more often and Adam Schneider was encouraging, but they need more from Nick Davis, who kicked 32 goals in 24 games. 7/10
LEADERSHIP
Maxfield was impressive as the AFL's least-known skipper and got great support from midfield generals Williams and Cresswell. Hall and O'Loughlin took more responsibility. Goodes, 23, looks a future captain. 8/10
LIST MANAGEMENT
Often appears a tall player short and can struggle against teams with three big forwards. Another marking target on the forward line is needed to take pressure off Hall. The emergence of Kennelly, Kirk and Crouch means an ageing midfield is gradually being updated. 8/10
MEDIA
Coach Roos is available, accessible and agreeable just about all the time. Access to players after a game is first class. Administrators are usually forthcoming. 9/10
MEMBERSHIP
Stands at 22,124, a drop of 24 per cent on 2002. The Swans' vastly improved form could result in a boost next year. 5/10
FINANCES
Not too flash. Facing a projected loss of about $500,000 after losing $1.7 million last year. But packed Telstra Stadium games could reduce loss. 6/10
TOTAL SCORE: 75/100
FIRST CLASS HONOURS
PAUL WILLIAMS and BARRY HALL
Williams, despite reaching the veteran stage, was a stand-out goalscoring midfielder and made All-Australian. Hall has matured and worked hard as the main forward target with 64 goals.
QUIET ACHIVERS
BRETT KIRK and LEO BARRY
Kirk developed into one of the best run-with players in the game with several big scalps. Barry's run out of defence symbolised the Swans' dashing style.
RISING STARS
ADAM SCHNEIDER and LEWIS ROBERTS-THOMSON
Schneider was clever, nippy, determined and dangerous with his left foot. Roberts-Thomson developed quickly following his Round 8 debut and looks a future regular.
MISSING IN ACTION
ROWAN WARFE and SCOTT STEVENS
Warfe has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Stevens played 11 games but did not progress into the tall forward option to take pressure off Barry Hall.
SEE YOU LATER
Daryn Cresswell has retired after 244 games.
Possible delistings: Daniel McPherson, Heath James, Rowan Warfe.
TRADE TEASER
Matthew Nicks to Melbourne for Paul Wheatley
ORDER OF DRAFT PICKS: 15, 30, 46, 62, 78 (subject to trades)
The Swans are unlikely to make wholesale changes after such a successful year and their debt means they can't afford to splurge on marquee names. But Paul Roos needs a versatile tall and appears to have lost faith in Matthew Nicks to fill the role, dropping him twice this season.
How they must wish they'd drafted Broken Hill youngster Brent Staker before West Coast last year. Melbourne could use Nicks to help Russell Robertson and long-kicking defender Paul Wheatley seems suited to the SCG and is out of favour.
RANKINGS
1 Adam Goodes 2870
2 Jude Bolton 2519
3 Paul Williams 2278
4 Barry Hall 2183
5 Brett Kirk 2165
GOALS
1 Barry Hall 64
2 Michael O'Loughlin 41
3 Nick Davis 32
OTHERS
Kicks Adam Goodes 304
Marks Barry Hall 167
Handballs Jude Bolton 212
Clearances Jude Bolton 115
Clangers Adam Goodes 69
Tackles Brett Kirk 140
Goal assists Paul Williams 22
Hitouts Adam Goodes 299
Marking spoils Andrew Schauble 73
Most benchings Jude Bolton 70
Game time Leo Barry 2852min
Players used 32
The Good
Sydney had the best goalscoring accuracy (64 per cent) and it generated more goals from rebound 50s than any other team.
The Bad
Ranked 13th in hardball gets and looseball gets and averaged 48 inside 50s a game ? the least in the AFL
Paul Roos has been a revelation in his second season after taking over in Round 13 last year. Most pundits tipped Sydney for the wooden spoon, but Roos won plaudits for the Swans' free-running and challenging style. 9/10
DEFENCE
Few big names, but they knitted well and rarely conceded big scores. The running Leo Barry was excellent across half-back. The improvement of Craig Bolton was crucial as was the experience of Andrew Schauble. 8/10
MIDFIELD
The combination of veterans Paul Williams, Daryn Cresswell and Stuart Maxfield, the dash of Tadhg Kennelly, either on the wing or from down back, on top of Adam Goodes' ruck mobility, gave Sydney plenty of drive. Brett Kirk, Jared Crouch and Jude Bolton provided the hardness. 8/10
RUCK STRENGTH
Jason Ball turns 31 in November and Goodes needs greater support. Time is running out for the injury-stricken Stephen Doyle. Lewis Roberts-Thomson is a likely type but eventually is expected to fill a tall defender role. 7/10
FORWARDS
Barry Hall provided consistent target and has taken his game to a new level showing greater discipline. Michael O'Loughlin's brilliant cameos occurred more often and Adam Schneider was encouraging, but they need more from Nick Davis, who kicked 32 goals in 24 games. 7/10
LEADERSHIP
Maxfield was impressive as the AFL's least-known skipper and got great support from midfield generals Williams and Cresswell. Hall and O'Loughlin took more responsibility. Goodes, 23, looks a future captain. 8/10
LIST MANAGEMENT
Often appears a tall player short and can struggle against teams with three big forwards. Another marking target on the forward line is needed to take pressure off Hall. The emergence of Kennelly, Kirk and Crouch means an ageing midfield is gradually being updated. 8/10
MEDIA
Coach Roos is available, accessible and agreeable just about all the time. Access to players after a game is first class. Administrators are usually forthcoming. 9/10
MEMBERSHIP
Stands at 22,124, a drop of 24 per cent on 2002. The Swans' vastly improved form could result in a boost next year. 5/10
FINANCES
Not too flash. Facing a projected loss of about $500,000 after losing $1.7 million last year. But packed Telstra Stadium games could reduce loss. 6/10
TOTAL SCORE: 75/100
FIRST CLASS HONOURS
PAUL WILLIAMS and BARRY HALL
Williams, despite reaching the veteran stage, was a stand-out goalscoring midfielder and made All-Australian. Hall has matured and worked hard as the main forward target with 64 goals.
QUIET ACHIVERS
BRETT KIRK and LEO BARRY
Kirk developed into one of the best run-with players in the game with several big scalps. Barry's run out of defence symbolised the Swans' dashing style.
RISING STARS
ADAM SCHNEIDER and LEWIS ROBERTS-THOMSON
Schneider was clever, nippy, determined and dangerous with his left foot. Roberts-Thomson developed quickly following his Round 8 debut and looks a future regular.
MISSING IN ACTION
ROWAN WARFE and SCOTT STEVENS
Warfe has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Stevens played 11 games but did not progress into the tall forward option to take pressure off Barry Hall.
SEE YOU LATER
Daryn Cresswell has retired after 244 games.
Possible delistings: Daniel McPherson, Heath James, Rowan Warfe.
TRADE TEASER
Matthew Nicks to Melbourne for Paul Wheatley
ORDER OF DRAFT PICKS: 15, 30, 46, 62, 78 (subject to trades)
The Swans are unlikely to make wholesale changes after such a successful year and their debt means they can't afford to splurge on marquee names. But Paul Roos needs a versatile tall and appears to have lost faith in Matthew Nicks to fill the role, dropping him twice this season.
How they must wish they'd drafted Broken Hill youngster Brent Staker before West Coast last year. Melbourne could use Nicks to help Russell Robertson and long-kicking defender Paul Wheatley seems suited to the SCG and is out of favour.
RANKINGS
1 Adam Goodes 2870
2 Jude Bolton 2519
3 Paul Williams 2278
4 Barry Hall 2183
5 Brett Kirk 2165
GOALS
1 Barry Hall 64
2 Michael O'Loughlin 41
3 Nick Davis 32
OTHERS
Kicks Adam Goodes 304
Marks Barry Hall 167
Handballs Jude Bolton 212
Clearances Jude Bolton 115
Clangers Adam Goodes 69
Tackles Brett Kirk 140
Goal assists Paul Williams 22
Hitouts Adam Goodes 299
Marking spoils Andrew Schauble 73
Most benchings Jude Bolton 70
Game time Leo Barry 2852min
Players used 32
The Good
Sydney had the best goalscoring accuracy (64 per cent) and it generated more goals from rebound 50s than any other team.
The Bad
Ranked 13th in hardball gets and looseball gets and averaged 48 inside 50s a game ? the least in the AFL
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