Sydney Swans: 2019 fixtures, preview, list changes, every player and odds

The Swans did what they do in 2018 – play finals - but it was a little bit different to a normal Sydney September as they were thrashed by crosstown rival GWS, scoring just 30 points for the match.

And things didn’t get much better once the dust had settled, with three-time All Australian Dan Hannebery asking for a trade to St Kilda and club mascot Gary Rohan also wanting out, while rumours swirled about the futures of Luke Parker and Jake Lloyd. 

The exodus was limited and at the end of the day the list looks no weaker than it did before the post-season dealings, but there’s been an air of disquiet hanging around the Swans since the 2016 Grand Final loss and it’s starting to smell just a little pungent.

The young talent at Sydney could be the breath of fresh air the place needs, and the addition of Nick Blakey in the draft is a great addition to a side desperate to find help for Lance Franklin in front of goals.

However, many believe there is a divide between youth and the veterans at Sydney, and with half a dozen ‘over 30s’ still shuffling around it may be a while before true happiness is in place. 

List changes

In

Ryan Clarke (North Melbourne), Jackson Thurlow (Geelong), Daniel Menzel (Geelong), Nick Blakey (Sydney Academy, pictured), James Rowbottom (Oakleigh Chargers), Justin McInerney (Northern Knights), Zac Foot (Dandenong Stingrays)

Rookies

Durak Tucker (Peel Thunder), Harry Reynolds (Sandringham Dragons), Kurt Tippett (Sydney)

Out

Dan Hannebery, Nic Newman, Gary Rohan, Jake Brown, Jordan Foote, Alex Johnson, Harry Marsh, Daniel Robinson, Angus Styles, Dean Towers

Thank you Hanners for the impact you had in the red and white.

We wish you all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/YsvNQq4Yn4

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) October 11, 2018

Best Brownlow chances

Josh Kennedy $34, Lance Franklin $51, Isaac Heeney $81, Luke Parker $101

While Kennedy is the shortest-priced Swan in Brownlow betting the skipper would need to have an Indian Summer next winter if he was to be any chance, although he may have already had his last hurrah with 2017’s fourth-placed finish.

Heeney seems the more likely as he has been taking his game to new heights recently and getting a real knack for the spectacular. There’s no doubt the 22-year-old is going to be a superstar of the game, its just a matter of when he takes the leap.

‘Buddy’ also knows how to catch the eye and managed to rack up 16 votes in 2018 – roughly one vote for each minute of training if we’re to believe John Longmire.

Players to watch

Nick Blakey, Daniel Menzel

Blakey could have chosen to go to either North Melbourne or Brisbane as a father-son recruit, but settled on Sydney as an Academy graduate and where his old man John happens to work. His future looks to be as a key forward but he has all the attributes to make the grade as a midfielder, and a bloody good one. It will be interesting to see if John Longmire throws Blakey in at the deep end in an effort to relieve the pressure on Franklin, or if the Swans prefer to nurse their investment through the lower leagues.

Menzel will definitely be placed at Buddy’s feet from round one – if he’s fit to play. The former Cat had groin surgery last week that will keep him from full training until February and may delay the start to his season. No one questions Menzel’s goalkicking ability, but his pressure game has come under plenty of criticism and it’s imperative to his future, and Sydney’s, that he learns how to keep the ball in the front half.

Welcome @DanielMenzel10 to his first session in the red & white 👌 #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/GVrBbJUnfN

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 25, 2018

A last chance to watch?

Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy

The coach seemed to have McVeigh retired midway through 2018 and speculation rose that the 33-year-old would look for a new club, but it was impossible to question his value to the team and, with Dan Hannebery leaving, the Swans’ midfield needs all the quality it can get while the young kids develop. A one-year contract extension came through, but it will be hard to see the former skipper and two-time best and fairest winner making it to 2020. 

Grundy is another club favourite and the cornerstone of Sydney’s defence for the past decade, however he’s only signed till the end of 2019 and will be 33 by then. A natural successor may not yet be evident, but Longmire will be hoping to find younger options to take his side into the future. 

Sydney Swans’ 2019 list

Fresh faces 🙂 #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/Xvxstriw2Q

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 26, 2018

Sydney Swans’ 2019 Fixture

Games played on

Thursday: 1
Friday: 5
Saturday: 13
Sunday: 2

Teams played twice

Essendon, Carlton, GWS Giants, Melbourne, Geelong

2019 Preview and premiership odds

Is it ever possible to write off the Swans going into a new year? Probably not, but the feeling is they’re at the least competitive level they’ve been this century and there’ll need to be a bit of pain before success comes knocking again.

Champion Data recently rated Sydney 13th when assessing the strength of club lists, a lot lower than the equal fifth-favourite premiership odds of $12 would suggest, and with Hannebery gone and McVeigh, Kennedy, Franklin, Grundy and Kieren Jack all on the wrong side of 30, it would seem the magnificent recent era is coming to an end.

Is there time for one more tilt at the title before the champions leave and with Heeney, Luke Parker and Callum Mills coming through?

It may be harder to get to September, but if the Swans are there when the finals come around … well, you just don’t know.