Sydney Swans News

On the eve of the AFL's indigenous round, Adam Goodes pays tribute to Nicky Winmar's courageous act of defiance at Collingwood's Victoria Park 20 years ago.

"It was one of those moments of a proud indigenous man standing up for himself," Goodes said.

"It's something that stands in history which proves that you can call me all the things that you want, you can discriminate against me, say all these things, but I'm still going to be black, I'm still going to be proud.

"That's exactly what the photo symbolises to me. Even today, 20 years later, it highlights how every indigenous person should feel about their heritage."

Dan Hannebery says teammate and champion Adam Goodes' impact on the Swans is even bigger off the field.

"He's a leader of the team, but he also helps the young guys coming through and makes sure they're all doing the right things," Hannebery said.

"It's not just about what he's done on the field, which has been unbelievable, but it's more about how he goes about it off the field and how he sets the tone for the culture of the footy club."

Kurt Tippett's housemate and teammate Dan Hannebery says the big forward is raring to play for the Swans but must first prove himself of deserving of a place in the side.

"He's frustrated, he wants to show what he's capable of and have an impact for the team," Hannebery said.

"He still has to prove that he's a valued team member by what he does at training and when he plays.

"He has to make sure he plays his role and that's all we're going to be asking of him, to compete and work hard."

Kurt Tippett says he is working hard to ensure he is ready for his debut as a Swan against Port Adelaide in round 13.

"I've seen it (the delayed start to the season) as an opportunity," Tippett said.

"It's an opportunity to improve in some areas that can help my football. Being stronger, fitter and faster.

"There's light at the end of the tunnel. My selection is up to the coaches, but I'm preparing myself to be able to play at that level. I'm doing everything I can physically and mentally to be right."

Swans coach John Longmire says the club has taken offense to Dermott Brereton questioning the courage and fairness of Adam Goodes.

"I find it quite strange sitting here having to defend Adam Goodes's reputation," Longmire said.

He's won two Brownlow Medals. As far as I know they award those for the best and fairest player so I think Adam Goodes's reputation stands alone.

"I had a brief chat with Adam. Adam doesn't care what Dermott Brereton thinks and so he shouldn't."

Former Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton blasts Sydney champion Adam Goodes for allegedly trying to chop the legs of Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson.

The AFL Match Review Panel had cleared Goodes of the incident, saying he was making a legitimate attempt to kick the ball.

"Adam Goodes, as is his penchant ... lunges forward with a foot," Brereton said on SEN radio.

"To me, he knew exactly what he was doing and he chopped out Josh Gibson's leg. Quite possibly, that action can ruin somebody's career. In English football, that is a leg chop - that is red card stuff."

Tony Armstrong says he had mixed feelings about missing out on the Swans' premiership in 2012 after being named as an emergency in the Grand Final side.

"After the boys ran out, I was down in the rooms with (fellow emergencies) Tommy Walsh and Trent Dennis-Lane," Armstrong said.

"We just had a shower, got changed and sat with all the other players and family right behind the goals.

"It was kind of a strange thing really. You felt part of it, but then you didn't. It was really weird, but awesome at the same time, seeing some of my best mates win a flag."

Nick Malceski has turned down the opportunity to test free agency in favour of signing a new one-year deal with the Swans.

Shane Mumford is disciplined for a rare breach of the club's much-vaunted code of conduct after a big night out in Melbourne.

"Going into a long week, Shane went to Melbourne and had a couple of drinks and we dealt with it with our captains and spoke to Shane about it and dealt with it in the players' code of conduct," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"We're not going to go into details of what he was fined, (but) it's disappointing for any player. It was disappointing from Shane's point of view and he acknowledged that."

Lewis Roberts-Thomson's knee injury is worse than first suspected, with the Swans utility to miss the next six to eight weeks after an arthroscope revealed more joint surface cartilage damage in his right knee.

"We need to tidy that up a little bit, which means he will be out for a little bit longer," Cameron told the club's website," Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said.

"It's an injury that can really be a little bit unpredictable and one we have to be a little bit more careful with, so it could even push out to eight weeks with him out of the game."

Dan Hannebury wins the Anzac medal for being best on ground against St Kilda in Wellington.

Sydney coach John Longmire said Hannebury almost missed the match after suffering a corked calf against Geelong the week before.

"He was probably doubtful to play after last week, to be honest," Longmire said.

"He copped a huge cork on his calf but I saw him the next day after last week's game and he never had any doubt.

"I never really saw him without ice on his calf. Every time I saw him he'd have his foot wrapped up or his leg wrapped up in ice."

In a discussion with Mike Sheahan, Barry Hall says his aggressive behaviour on the field was fueled by mantras instilled into him by his father, which included:
1) The only way to stop violence is more violence;
2) Never give a mug an even break;
3) Never let anyone have anything over you.

Hall also says he is grateful to the Bulldogs for giving him a second chance after he was ostracised from Sydney.

"I think everyone cares about what people think of them. I care about what people think about me," Hall said.

"If I didn't play again [after Sydney], I would be remembered in a totally different light to what I am now. I will be forever indebted to the Bulldogs.

"There weren't a lot of clubs that put up their hand to put me on their books. They were probably the only one."

Having played primarily as a forward in 2013 so far, Adam Goodes says having Kurt Tippett in the side will free him up for a run in the midfield which he is looking forward to.

"Definitely I'd love to play more in the midfield," Goodes said.

"But our midfield is playing so well and (we have) our keys up forward - myself, Sammy Reid and a ruckman as well.

"So until the big fella Kurt Tippett comes in, I'm happy to play that role up forward and pinch-hit in the midfield when they need me."

Despite turning 30 in 2013, Ted Richards believes his best football is yet to come.

"I was watching footy the other night and they were talking about some player coming to the peak of their career and he was 23," Richards said.

"If that's the case, I'm definitely an exception to the rule.

"Right now I'm really enjoying my footy and I think that has a lot to do with how you play, so hopefully it continues. The optimist in me thinks that this year could be even better than last year."

Josh Kennedy says he expects extra attention from opposition players in 2013 after establishing himself as one of the league's premier midfielders in 2012.

"I think there will be a little bit more pressure on me. I've slipped under the radar the last few year," he said.

"It could be a tough year. I do expect to be tagged more, I'd be naive if I didn't.

"I'll at least be preparing for it. It depends on the individual you're playing on and finding what they like to do and finding what they don't like to do and exploiting it. It's just a week-to-week thing."

With Alex Johnson ruled out for the season, Dane Rampe will be elevated to the Swans' senior list in time for round one.

After establishing himself as one of the game's premier midfielders, Josh Kennedy says he is still refining his game.

"I certainly don't want to go backwards," Kennedy said.

"I'm always looking to improve. There are little things I can tweak, maybe playing a few different positions, getting more on the outside.

"But I just need to make sure the essence of my game is as strong as it's always been."

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh says big name recruit Kurt Tippett will have to earn his place in the side after his 11-week suspension.

"He has to earn that first game and when he does [he will] have earned it," McVeigh said.

"We don't give games away easily."

Alex Johnson decides to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction instead of LARS surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Nathan Van Berlo signs a three-year deal with the Crows.

"It was a no-brainer for me to make the decision to stay. With the direction the club is heading in at the moment, I certainly want to be a part of it and I'm really excited to be here for another three years," van Berlo said about his decision to sign.

Van Berlo also takes a swipe at former teammate Kurt Tippett for leaving under controversial circumstances last year.

"I guess that was a clear example to the playing group of feelings that occur when you don't want to be a part of the playing group," van Berlo said about Tippett's mannger of departure.

"It wasn't handled well from his point of view and the players certainly reacted accordingly to that and felt like they were let down.

"They've seen ways they shouldn't do it, if they choose to leave our system, but I don't think we'll have that case to deal with any time soon."

After being banned from playing until June 22, Kurt Tippett will instead work on mentoring the Swans' academy's under-16 and under-18 squads.

"Being able to help the kids out, particularly the taller boys, really interested me and hopefully I can pass on some knowledge to them," Tippett said.

"I've also got a big break at the start of the season before I can play. So it provides a great opportunity to keep my head in the game and keep really sharp.

"If I can teach other people the skills then hopefully I am reinforcing them to myself as well. I guess I'm still developing my skills as a coach."

Swans assistant coach Henry Playfair says Gary Rohan is starting to return to full pace after breaking his leg against North Melbourne last year.

"He got the all-clear from the surgeon and they actually mentioned he can start pushing it a little bit," Playfair said.

"His running has increased in the last three weeks and he's actually starting to move a bit like the old Gary Rohan.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but you just see him stride occasionally and you think, he's on the way back."

Scans confirm that Alex Johnson has ruptured his arterior cruciate ligament. Johnson will return to Melbourne where he will decide on whether to undergo LARS surgery or a traditional reconstruction.

"I think just getting out of Sydney and getting down to Melbourne and getting my mind off it will give me a chance to make the right decision for myself and the football club," Johnson said.

"Mal (teammate Nick Malceski) and the doctor (Nathan Gibbs) have been through LARS a couple of times and (former Swan) Campbell Heath last year as well.

"I've had a chat to them and now I'm just weighing up my options and I'll give it the next week to make a decision."

Josh Kennedy will remain at the Swans for at least another four years after signing a new deal with the club.

"When I came here four years ago, to think that I would be in the position that I'm in now signing another four-year deal is an amazing feeling," Kennedy said.

"It was something I always wanted to do and, given the opportunity, I felt that I could turn things around for myself and the Swans were willing to give me that opportunity.

"They were really clear with what they expected from me in my role and it's just gone from there with games and confidence. I just love being part of this group with ... my teammates who are now my family up here. It's a fantastic journey and hopefully it's still only beginning."

Alex Johnson is feared to have torn his ACL after being taken off in a stretcher during the Swans' win over Gold Coast in the NAB Cup.

Just hours after signing a new contract with the Swans, Kieren Jack has been named as Sydney's co-captain for the 2013 AFL season along with Jarrad McVeigh.

"Over the past few years we have seen Kieren develop enormously as player, but also as a leader," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"I'm sure he will continue to grow into the captaincy role but I'm really confident he and Jarrad will be a fantastic combination to guide our group.

"It's a great thing for football in NSW to have a couple of local NSW boys leading the team into the 2013 season."

Ryan O'Keefe signs on for two more years at the Swans saying he hasn't lost his hunger for success at the club.

"You're always searching for that perfect game or perfect season and I'm still looking for that," O'Keefe said.

"Obviously team success is what you play for and I've been fortunate enough to taste it before and once you get that taste, you just want it again, it's quite addictive."

Blues chief executive Greg Swann says he is bewildered as to how reigning premiers Sydney were able to find room in their salary cap for Kurt Tippett.

Carlton, along with Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond, will put their case to the AFL at next month's equalisation summit, seeking to end Sydney's 9.8 per cent salary cap advantage.

"We are staggered that the premiers can add an $800,000-per-season player (in Tippett) to their list without shedding anyone," Swann said.

"The only way they can do that is the allowance and we think it's not right. It's not how the system should work.

"If you win a premiership you are supposed to be under pressure to retain players, not bring in the highest-priced recruit there was last year.

"They will say they were being clever with the way they used their cap but, whichever way you cut it, to do what they have done puts into question the fairness of the system."

Boom Swans recruit Kurt Tippett gives his team a glimpse of what to expect with a strong showing during an intraclub match.

"It was good to see Kurt Tippett have a really good strong hitout and have five or six shots at goal against a quality defence," coach John Longmire said afterwards.

"He has to make the most of these opportunities because he hasn't got many games coming up.

"It's good to see him get his hands on the footy and have a number of shots at goal and look really sharp.

"He's a big target coming out of the goalsquare and for a bit there worked with Sam Reid and I thought the two of them looked pretty good."

Adam Goodes says he'll be ready for the start of the AFL season after recovering from a partial posterior cruciate ligament tear.

"I think the best thing that has happened out of all of it is that I'd gone through the same process with my other knee," Goodes said.

"We've taken a really cautious approach this time because we did have that extra time and now I feel like I'm really coming good at the right time of the year.

"There is no doubt I'll be ready for round one."

Kurt Tippett says he still has friends in Adelaide and hopes his former teammates can understand his decision to move to Sydney.

"I played there for six years and have a lot of good friends in Adelaide whether they be teammates or people outside the football club," Tippett said in a discussion with Neil Cordy.

"There was a lot of emotion floating around at that time. It wasn't a perfect situation or a perfect exit from a football club. It's not the way you would like to leave.

"But, in moving forward, I don't see why things should change. Friends are friends, teammates are teammates and I think everyone respects and understands why people do certain things, looking after their future and making themselves as happy as they can."

Kurt Tippett's manager, Peter Blucher, has had his licence to manage AFL players revoked for a minimum of 12 months for his role in the Adelaide Crows salary-cap rorting scandal.

Swans star Adam Goodes admits he is underdone after a pre-season dominated by rehabilitation on an injured knee.

"No pain. No swelling. Nothing to worry about. Just got to get back to the fitness that everyone else is at," Goodes said.

"Every year offers different challenges. Coming back with a premiership medallion makes you feel pretty good about having a sore knee.

"I've been around footy for 15 years. You have to deal with a lot of different things throughout pre-season and you know what you have to do to get yourself right for round one."

Sydney Swans premiership player Daniel Hannebery is involved in a driving mishap at the Falls Festival's camping ground.

Swans spokesman Jonathon Monasso said Hannebery was sitting in the stationary van with a friend, when the handbrake came loose and the vehicle rolled into two other parked cars.

Veterans Ted Richards and Lewis Roberts-Thomson will be Swans for life after signing new deals that will keep them at Sydney until the end of 2014.

"Ted is coming off a personal best season in 2012 that saw him named All Australian after playing on some of the game's biggest and best forwards," Sydney Swans general manager Dean Moore said.

"He is an important member of our leadership group, so it is pleasing to have him re-sign.

"Lewis is born and bred here in New South Wales and is a club life member so we are obviously very excited to have him extend his career at the Swans."

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says he doesn't understand why Kurt Tippett left for Sydney but says he has moved on from the saga.

"I'll certainly shake his hand and wish him good luck," Sanderson said.

"We're fine. While a lot of us don't understand the reasons (he left), it's the business and the industry we're in now. I've moved on because these things happen in footy."

Sam Reid says he is looking forward to working with Kurt Tippett in Sydney's forward line.

"It's exciting to have another big key forward down there," Reid said.

"He'll come in half way through the year, which is unfortunate, but I'm looking forward to it."

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh says boom recruit Kurt Tippett must work hard to establish himself at his new club.

"We've got a set of behaviours that we like to live by and we'll go through all that kind of stuff over the next few months," McVeigh said.

"All the boys that come through, you want to earn the respect of your peers and that's what you want out of footy.

"You do that by training hard, doing all the right things and then when game day comes you look after your mate and if Kurt can do that and the other boys can do that they'll get a game."

Sydney recruit Kurt Tippett says he is looking forward to focussing on playing football now after a tumultuous off-season.

"It's very exciting to be here in Sydney, after a long off-season, a few little challenges," Tippett said.

"I look forward to playing football, settling in, training hard and preparing myself well and earning the guys' trust over the summer.

"It's been a challenge for myself and my family but I'm happy to put that all behind me now."

Tim Sumner says he has learnt from the mistakes of older brother Byron, who was axed by the Swans in 2011.

"He made a mistake being there and he said 'once you get up there, just do everything right'," Tim said of Bryon's advice.

"Listen, respect everyone else around you and you will go well. He said don't follow in his footsteps."

Sydney star Ryan O'Keefe says the possible arrival of Kurt Tippett would be a massive plus for the Swans as they defend their crown.

"He's a big guy who can pinch hit in the ruck and provide a target up forward," O'Keefe said.

"We're not expecting him to come here and be best on ground. He doesn't have to come here and be best on ground. He doesn't have to play the game of his life every week.

"He just has to come here and play a role that's the way we play it."

Ex-Sydney Swan Jarred Moore has been signed by North Melbourne as a development coach.

"He is only recently out of the game and his experience as a leader at Sydney stood out," North Melbourne football manager Donald McDonald said of Moore.

"The knowledge and perspective he can bring to our coaching department will be invaluable."

Dual Sydney Swans premiership star Jude Bolton has decided he will play on in 2013.

"I just love the competitiveness," Bolton said.

"I love footy, it's the sport I grew up with and I've always had this passion to play. You hear people say 'you're a long time retired' and I still think I can really compete at this level."

Swan Gary Rohan continues his comeback from a broken leg with the help of a de-load treadmill that he says "feels like you're running on the moon".

"My mind was telling me that I shouldn't be running because I've been out for so long, but my confidence is coming back pretty well.
," Rohan said.

"It's a bit different to a normal treadmill because it takes my body weight, so I'm running at 70 per cent of my body weight, which is good, but it feels like you're running on the moon.



"Overall, I'm feeling more confident with my leg and I'm doing more weights as well. I feel bigger than last year, so that's where I'm at so far."

Swans speedster Lewis Jetta says his improvement in 2012 was due to working with teammate Kieren Jack.

"It was just a lot of hard work. I wasn't as fit as I was last year as I am this year and I jumped on Kieren Jack's back and just followed him all pre-season and just came out really fit and it had just shown in my games," Jetta said.

"I managed to get down into defence and then push back hard into our forward line and kicked a couple of goals."

Rhyce Shaw's father, former Collingwood skipper Ray, says his son will turn to coaching when his playing days are over.

"The way they're talking about him, the coaches and the football staff, I'd be very surprised if we see him for a while," Ray Shaw said.

"They're putting him through a coaching course at the moment, so I think they're pretty keen to get him involved in that. Everything's going really well for him up there."

Sydney Swans history-maker Mike Pyke has agreed to a new two-year deal with the club.

"Signing a new contract is very important to me," Pyke said.

"I feel like the Swans are my Australian family. There are so many people that I look up to and feel comfortable to confide in at the club, so to play for a club like this is something really special.

"Since my arrival at the club, my number one priority for every session has been to improve.

"I still feel like I have plenty of development left in me and hopefully I can add a few more strings to my bow next year."

Just weeks after claiming the 2012 premiership, the Sydney Swans have moved quickly to freshen their list.

Brett Meredith, Nathan Gordon, Mark Seaby and 2012 leadership group member Jarred Moore were all delisted during the trading period, along with rookies Eugene Kruger, Jack Lynch and Dylan McNeil.

Hawthorn has added to its key defensive stocks, picking up Matt Spangher from the Sydney Swans.

The Hawks swapped NAB AFL Draft pick 66 for the defender and pick 72.

"For a long time we've admired Matt as a quality person, and we're confident he will fit in well with the culture of our club," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

Port Adelaide has continued its busy trade period by signing Swans defender Campbell Heath.

"He's overcome some injuries and the harsh reality of facing the end of his career, before grabbing a lifeline and producing a really consistent year in 2012, particularly in the second half of the season and during finals," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"We think that's a credit to him and a sign his knee and body are sound and he has plenty of football in front of him."

Swans forward Trent Dennis-Lane has joined St Kilda just before the end of the trade period in exchange for pick 47.

Michael O'Loughlin wants Jude Bolton to play on and overtake him on the club's all-time games played list.

"My gut feel is that he'll play purely because the year that he had was an extraordinary one," O'Loughlin said.

"The way he goes about his footy is first class and it's always been first class, so I don't see any reason why he won't continue to play."

Sydney Swans midfielder Jude Bolton is expected to play on next year after stating his desire to win another flag.

"The fire still burns to win another premiership. Once you get the taste for it, it's a pretty addictive feeling," Bolton said.

"We just have to work it out and I still want to be able to contribute week-in, week-out and I think my body is in good enough shape to do that."

Sydney rewards head coach John Longmire's 2012 premiership season with a contract extension until 2015.

"Our arrangement with John provided for an automatic trigger for a premiership that extended him until 2015," Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland said.

"John has done a fantastic job with us, and when you are a successful coach like him, you get your just reward."

Swans CEO Andrew Ireland says Tom Mitchell was never a trade candidate despite rumours suggesting the young midfielder might have been used to complete a deal to land Kurt Tippett.

"Tom's name has never been raised by us and will never be raised by us," Ireland said.

"He's a father-son who we think will be important in our midfield in the future and he would never be part of the trade."

Heath Grundy's manager Marty Pask says there is not chance his client will be involved in a trade for Kurt Tippett by the Swans.

"He's in Sydney and that is the beginning and end of it. Sydney will not trade him at all," Pask said.

"He's happy being in Sydney . . . He's just extended his contract with Sydney, so there's no way in this world he's going to be traded."

Mark Seaby will play in the WAFL next year if he can't find another AFL team.

"There's one or two clubs that have shown some interest but typically in trade week there's a lot of a discussion and it doesn't always eventuate," Seaby's manager Wayne Loxley said.

"If [an AFL club] is not in the offering, he'll settle back in Western Australia and play with West Perth.

"His first priority would be if there's a club that's keen to have him join them, he would seriously consider it but if that's not the case, he'll be back in Perth with his wife and baby and get on with the next phase of his life."

Ruckman Mark Seaby has been dumped from the Swans along with four teammates including Jarred Moore and rookie-listed players Eugene Kruger, Jack Lynch and Dylan McNeil.

The Sydney Swans have offered 300-game veteran Jude Bolton the opportunity play on next season should he choose to.

"We've said to him, 'You go and have a think about it, there's a spot there if that's what you want to do, but you shouldn't rush into something where you might have other opportunities'," Sydney CEO Andrew Ireland said.

"If he says yes, that's fine. We'll have a spot there for him."

Injured Swan Gary Rohan hopes to hit 2013 at peak fitness.

"I should be running in November," Rohan said.

"I do a lot of swimming, a lot of leg weights trying to get my muscles back to strength."

Sam Reid says he is keen to muscle up during the pre-season and become one of the strongmen of the competition.

"I think this year it improved and I was able to break even and not be thrown out of the way so easily by some of the bigger defenders," Reid said.

"I'd love to take the next stage and be the one dishing it out and being able to throw defenders away."

Josh Kennedy's fairytale season continues, scoring a record total in the Swans' best and fairest.

With 877 votes, Kennedy won the award by 172 votes from fellow All Australian Ted Richards, and Norm Smith medallist Ryan O'Keefe in third.

"Every year we implore our players to improve and in the three seasons he has been at our club, Josh has just kept getting better and better," Sydney head coach John Longmire said.

"To poll votes in every game is an outstanding achievement in itself and is testament to his consistency this season."

Jude Bolton says he will take several weeks to consider his future after defying injury to claim his second flag with the Swans.

"The PCL will heal, the ACL is always going to be a little frayed, but that's all right. The ACL could have gone at any stage. It could have gone when I started out as a 19-year-old. It's just one of those freak incidents," Bolton said.

"I will weigh up (my future) and could say it's a great way to finish up, or maybe I want to be part of what the boys are building. It's something where I will sit down with the club. Hopefully we will work it out. Once the emotions settle down we will go from there."

Ben McGlynn fronts fans at the Swans family day to say thanks for the support he has received in missing the Grand Final.

"I'm very appreciative of 'Horse' (coach John Longmire) mentioning me after the game and at last night's reception," McGlynn said.

"Tuesday I gave myself an opportunity to play and had to go one hundred per cent and I got through it a few times, but the last time, I felt tight.

"I gave myself every opportunity to play and to be recognised by the playing group over the last few hours, it's very humbling."

Kieren Jack's father, rugby league legend Garry, says Saturday's Grand Final was 'the best sporting event' he's been involved in after watching his son help the Swans take out the 2012 AFL premiership.

"I never won one as a player, but to win one as a father is just fantastic, absolutely fantastic," Garry Jack said.

"This was the greatest sporting event I've been involved with ever. I was here in '05 when they won and to win today and see Kieren kick two goals, I'm just so proud of him."

Despite being a Hawthorn supporter, Josh Kennedy's father John Jr says he is proud of his son's achievement after the Swans defeated Hawthorn to win the 2012 AFL premiership.

"I'm just really happy for Josh, because it was a big move for him to go,'' he said.

"But if he'd said to me three years ago that he'd be doing what he's doing right now, I'm not sure I would have ever thought that was going to happen.

"I would have preferred (Sydney) to play someone else. But it was Hawthorn and that's the way it is.''

Sydney ruckman Mike Pike took a risk moving from Canada to Australia but now has a premiership medal hanging around his neck after helping the Swans defeat the Hawks in the 2012 Grand Final.

"I never imagined I would be in a premiership side,'' the 26-year-old said.

"I was told by my manager (Michael Quinlan) the Swans were one of the best sides in the league but we were falling away from the 2005-2006 success."

Nick Malceski will remember his last kick in 2012 as the finest of his career after kicking a goal to seal the Grand Final for the Swans.

"If you look at the replay I think I fumbled it a fair bit … it wasn't quite in my hands and I kicked it out of mid-air," Malceski said of his left-foot snap with 42 seconds remaining," he said.

"It went high and I was hoping it was going to make the distance. Once it did I knew there wasn't much time to go and we were up by 10 points so I just went nuts.

"I don't know what I was doing down in the forward 50 - there was a bit of traffic around. John Blakey, my defensive coach, tells me not to go in the forward 50, but I'm sure he's happy that I went in there today."

Adam Goodes plays on in the 2012 Grand Final without painkillers despite tearing a ligament in his knee against the Hawks.

"He was enormous. He did a PCL and the word came back up that his PCL was gone in his good knee," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"Obviously it wasn't the news I really needed at that time. But to be able to just come back on, and I asked him a couple of times during the course of the game 'Are you all right?'

"He didn't even flinch. He said 'Don't worry about me'. He went on and no excuses from him, went out there and contributed really well."

Swans ruckman Shane Mumford says he played with a sore hamstring during the 2012 Grand Final was never a chance of missing it.

"It was just a little bit sore. There was nothing too bad about it. I pulled up a bit sore after training on Thursday but felt good ahead of the game so it was fine," Mumford said after the game.

"There's no need to talk it up, it was just a little bit sore. We've all played with injuries and stuff like that before."

Mitch Morton's Swans' career was ebbing away before his teammates pulled him aside and told him they didn't trust him.

"Halfway through the year some things happened … I was close to playing, but the playing group didn't trust me enough," Morton said.

"I was pretty upset about it for a couple of days when they told me that, but it really changed my life that moment.

"I made the decision, then and there, to give my life to this club."

Swan Ryan O'Keefe has won the 2012 Norm Smith Medal after 28 disposals and 15 tackles against the Hawks.

"I just enjoy getting in amongst it where the action is, being physical," O'Keefe said.

"I'm really enjoying my footy at the moment and the coaches are giving me the confidence just to back myself and get in there amongst it and get physical."

Mitch Morton is counting his luck as he prepares to play the first Grand Final of his career at his third club.

"It's surreal. I've had 30 people tell me I'm the luckiest man in the world and I agree with them," Morton said at Friday's Grand Final parade.

Swan veteran Jude Bolton will play the Grand Final with partially torn knee ligaments, an injury he suffered against Carlton in round 19.

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh will be the official skipper in Saturday's Grand Final.

"We're both equally a part of it and very proud to lead out team out," McVeigh said his co-captaincy with Adam Goodes.

"Nothing changes; it's just the toss of the coin and stuff like that. Our leadership group and 'Goodesy' and myself are very proud to lead this group out.

"We haven't really spoken about [who will lift the cup first] because we've got a lot of hard work to do before we can do that."

Nick Malceski has endured knee injuries throughout his AFL career but has always maintained a positive outlook and will be part of Sydney's 2012 Grand Final side.

"It was a long time ago 2006 and I was only young and thought it would happen every year," Malceski said during the Grand Final Parade.

"But obviously it doesn't and it's good to be part of it this year. I've done my knee twice since the last one. Finally getting here again, we've got a great opportunity, and hopefully we can capitalise."

Mike Pyke is on the verge of creating history as the first Canadian to play in the Grand Final and has put contract talks on hold to concentrate on his football until after the finals.

"The second the finals started, I just said I wanted to concentrate on football and my manager has been doing everything," he said.

"Something was written on Saturday or Sunday about me being the first Canadian in a Grand Final and I was like '****, the team hasn't been picked yet. I better be. My mum has booked her flight'."

Jarrad McVeigh says he and others who didn't play in the 2005 flag win still feel the pain of losing the 2006 Grand Final to West Coast.

"Obviously it's very disappointing to lose a Grand Final. You still think about it, and it still hurts," McVeigh said ahead of Sydney's Grand Final against Hawthorn.

"I'm fortunate enough now to get another opportunity and I don't really want to waste that opportunity."

Sydney Swan Ben McGlynn has failed a fitness test and will not play in the Grand Final.

"He did a sprint test before training and whilst he sprinted once, when he sprinted again he had some discomfort, so really he failed that test in order to train," Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said.

"Not being able to train today and Thursday means he is unfortunately out of this game."

Swans ruckman Shane Mumford is free to play in Saturday's Grand Final after being cleared by the MRP for rough conduct.

Shane Mumford must beat a possible misconduct charge against Pies forward Chris Dawes to play in the 2012 Grand Final.

A return to full fitness has seen Adam Goodes find top form at the business end of the season after finishing with 25 disposals, nine marks and six clearances against Collingwood during the Swans' preliminary final.

"You don't play over 300 games and have a couple of Brownlows hanging around your neck if you haven't got class," teammate Ryan O'Keefe said.

"He's one of our leaders and he's had a couple of injuries during the year. But he's over that and I think he's really enjoying it and loving the challenge of finals."

Lewis Jetta is returning to form at the best possible time as the Swans mount a serious charge at the 2012 AFL premiership after dispatching of the Magpies in their preliminary final.

"I had a bit of a quiet last four weeks of the season and against Adelaide [in the qualifying final], I got some rhythm back," Jetta said.

"This game I got back to what I'm good at, running and carrying."

Jetta says missing out on All Australian selection does not phase him significantly.

"I wasn't really that disappointed," Jetta said afterwards.

"It's just an individual award. I was happy just to make the squad.

"I [would] prefer a [premiership] medallion around my neck, that's even bigger, that's what I'm focusing on this week. We'll get to recovery and get ready."

Sydney coach John Longmire says Jarred McVeigh is regarded as the team's commander-in-chief.

"He sees the game really well and he understands the game really well. He's got great football smarts," Longmire said.

"It's an important quality to have, being able to see the game and assist with the on-field work, which he's very good at."

Jude Bolton is on the verge of becoming a rare 300-gamer and will reach the mark having paid little heed to self-preservation.

"He's carried plenty of structural injuries in the past, AC joints, collarbones, all sorts of things," Swans physio and rehabilitation co-ordinator Matt Cameron said.

"He's got that quality of being able to carry injuries.

"Even his most recent one, his knee, must've been affecting him to some degree, but he was able to put it to one side and will himself through.

"Whether that's his pain threshold or his ability to not let it affect his speed or agility, it's been a great effort."

Brothers Sam and Ben Reid may be matched up against each other when Collingwood take on the Swans in a preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.

Heath Grundy says he was devastated to miss the Swans opening final against Adelaide and was just happy to see the team win after being suspended for striking James Podsiadly.

"My whole career I hadn't been involved in anything like that, it was just a silly incident, and it was unfortunate [that] I couldn't play on the weekend," Grundy said.

"It was pretty frustrating after playing all the games, but I was just glad the boys won."

Josh Kennedy has had an outstanding season and says the Swans' style of play suits him perfectly.

"I love the rawness of it and how much it's just stripped back," he said.

"It's just basically a lot of one-on-one contests, it's a game of inches, and that's what I really love about it.

"I think it suits me and I think it suits our game plan and our game style we want to play."

Ben McGlynn suffers a hamstring injury in the Swans' qualifying final against Adelaide but Sydney hopes to see him back in action before their season ends.

"The scans showed Ben had only a little inflammation inside the muscle, which is a positive sign," Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said.

"We will work with Ben and hope to get him up and running again this season."

Dan Hannebery feels he owes a debt to the Swans after 'letting a few guys down' during last year's finals series against Hawthorn.

"I felt I let a few guys down by not being able to fill my role for the whole game and play the way I wanted to play," Hannebery said.

"In the back of my mind I was hoping I'd be right, but subconsciously I knew I wasn't 100 per cent.

"It does give you a bit of fire in the belly to want to give back this finals series. I want to make sure I help my teammates out and have a good impact for them."

Geelong midfielder James Kelly is critical about teammate Steve Johnson's one-match suspension for a block on Sydney's Daniel Hannebery.

"I think these days it is getting harder and harder to be an AFL footballer and especially out on the ground, with so much happening and so many decisions you have got to make in such a short space of time," Kelly said.

"It's getting really, really hard to know what you can and can't do."

Sydney defender Heath Grundy has failed in his appeal to overturn his one-match suspension for striking Cat James Podsiadly and will miss the Swans' final against the Crows.

Heath Grundy and Sydney challenge the defender's one-match ban for striking James Podsiadly in the hope that he will be allowed to play in the Swans' qualifying final against Adelaide.

"It's a bit difficult to comment but we think we've got a case and it will pan out this evening," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"We're pretty keen for Heath to play this week obviously and we think he's got a case."

Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson escapes with a reprimand following an appeal after being seen to apparently stomp on Swan Kieren Jack.

Coach John Longmire admits he's been pleasantly shocked at Mike Pyke's transformation into a key member of the Sydney Swans' line-up.

"He just keeps getting better, which is a credit to him. He's come into the game at such a late age and his ability to learn and listen and implement is second to none, really," Longmire said.

"If you had asked me [at the start of the year], whether we'd be going with two genuine rucks [at this point of the season], I'd have probably said no. But he's been able to hold his spot through consistent performances and really contribute."

Former Eagle and Tiger Mitch Morton will finally make his debut for the Sydney Swans after being in superb goalkicking form in the reserves.

"I think sitting here now, it's probably the proudest moment of my career to be able to break into a top-of-the-table team," Morton said.

"I'm very proud of the fact I've been working hard all year and have been able to take on board what the coaches have said.

"I'm very, very excited and am trying to contain my excitement at the moment and I can't wait for Sunday."

Sydney Swan Ben McGlynn has had to fight hard to get to his 100th AFL game.

"It's been a long road starting on the rookie list and now playing my hundredth game. I'm pretty proud of the achievement," he said.

"Out of the under-18s I didn't get drafted and went to the VFL for two seasons and learnt a lot there.

"I was then rookie listed at Hawthorn and spent four years there and now here at Sydney - it's my third season and I'm really enjoying it."

Ryan O'Keefe will celebrate game 250 against Carlton in sensational form, averaging over 33 touches in his past three games.

"He is the ultimate professional," former teammate and good friend Jared Crouch said.

"If he misses a shot at goal in a game. The next session he'll spend hours after training practicing the same shot. It's no surprise that he's made 250 games."

Sydney key forward Sam Reid will be sidelined for up to three weeks with scans confirming a partial tear of the medial ligament in his right knee.

"The good news is that the scan revealed no other damage to the knee and that no surgery will be required," Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said in a statement.

Sydney Swans ruckman Shane Mumford is likely to miss just one week after scans revealed bone bruising from a knee injury sustained St Kilda.

"Shane is feeling pretty good today and is walking around the club quite freely, but we will continue to monitor his progress throughout the week," coach John Longmire said.

"Bone bruising is a really tricky injury to assess and recovery time varies from case to case."

Swans veteran Jude Bolton is playing some of the best football of his career as he races towards 300 games.

"I've been on one-year deals for a while and I don't mind that," he said.

"It keeps you on edge and you don't look too far forward. I had a bit of an open chat with the club the other day and it's just about playing it by ear.

"There's a lot of pressure from the guys in the reserves as well and I have to keep playing good footy. That's the same for all positions across the ground and we're really excited with the strength of our list."

Dan Hannebery says he is confident he has put his shoulder problems behind him to take his game to a new level for the Sydney Swans after tallying a career-best 42 possessions against West Coast.

"They say [my shoulders] are stronger now after those operations. I kept working on my strength and so far they've been good," Hanneberry said.

"You lose two pre-seasons of strength work and I'm still playing catch-up with that stuff, but so far so good. Hopefully they can stay strong for years to come."

John Longmire has praised the form of ruckman Mike Pyke after the Canadian and fellow Swan ruckman matched it win the highly lauded West Coast ruck tandem of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui in Sydney's 52-point win over the Eagles.

"He didn't have that grounding of AFL football until 25 years of age, so had to cram it all in and he's a magnificent crammer," Longmire said.

"He's a real professional with the amount of time he sits there and watches the game, but also his ability to learn. I think he probably gets a bit underestimated with the challenge he has been able to overcome."

Mike Pyke says teammate Shane Mumford sets the standard at the club during training.

"He didn't have the pre-season he would have wanted to have had. His knee was crumbling away or something along those lines, so he didn't get the start he would have liked," Pyke said.

"But he has certainly played himself into some form now. He really puts pressure on guys and runs them hard and works them really hard in the contest, so he sets a standard for the club in the ruck division and we just try to follow him."

Sam Reid kicks a career-high six goals the Brisbane Lions.

"It was good, my confidence the last few weeks has been really, really high," Reid said.

"I've been able to do full training and work on things and my goalkicking has been consistent.

"The hard work is starting to pay off, but I need to keep going and can't sit back and think I'm going all right after tonight."

Adam Goodes has admitted he felt frustrated with his slow return to form after returning from the longest injury layoff of his career.

"I always thought I'd be back in six week and did all the right things to get myself back, but I was a little naïve to think I could come back and play to the standard I want to get to," Goodes said.

"So it has been a little bit frustrating from that point of view, but I'm just happy to be back playing footy."

John Longmire says dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes should finally be right to return for Friday's round 13 clash with Geelong.

"There's no expectation for him to come in to the team and dominate from the first bounce," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"We know he's a fit player, he can play forward, midfield, a number of roles for us, we just expect him to come in and contribute. We know he's a handy in for us."

Sydney Swans ruckman Shane Mumford says he is still a few weeks away from returning to his best after recovering from a back infection.

"My body's pretty much right now - but the match fitness is something you can't emulate in training," Mumford said.

"Hopefully, I'll be back to my best in the next few weeks .. it usually takes five or six games under your belt."

Michael O'Loughlin says Swans midfielder Lewis Jetta is in All-Australian form.

"He's fifth in the goalkicking as a midfielder," O'Loughlin said.

"He's gone to another level. He's been tagged a couple of times, but he's come back, and with his chase and his tackling, he's improved leaps and bounds over the last two years.

"The consistency is starting to come as well. I love the way he's going about it. It's taken a lot of hard work. It's no coincidence he's playing well now, over the summer he had a red hot crack."

Tiger Jack Riewoldt has been icing his ankle around the clock, including waking every three hours, in a bid to play against GWS this week.

"It's been a great lesson for our younger players — how much you put into (recovery)," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"We're very, very confident he'll play, which is a credit to Jack and the work he's put in to make himself available for this game."

Matthew Richardson says Jack Riewoldt's body language on the field will always be criticised, but it is making him a leader.

"He has got a very vibrant personality and sometimes people, I believe, have judged him wrongly on that. It's something that when he came into the game as a young player people saw it as a negative, [but] I think it's a huge positive in his game," Richardson said.

"He is a good leader out on the field as well. He does express himself a lot … he's always pointing and directing other teammates where to run. He is a natural forward, he knows how to set up the forward line very well."

Injured Swan Gary Rohan has called a radio talkback show to defend North's Lindsay Thomas over the slide tackle that broke his leg.

"I was told in junior footy to put your body between the opponent and the football. Lindsay Thomas did that," Rohan said.

"I thought it was fine. He was first to the ball and I couldn't do anything about it and I was waiting for him to get the ball so I could tackle him."

The past few months have been tough for former Swans captain Paul Kelly, who still can't walk after a motorbike crash.

"I can't work, I spent a month in bed, literally in bed … it's not good," Kelly said.

"If you're going to break something you'd want to make sure it's not your hip, because it just slows you up totally."

On the eve of his 100th match, Swans midfielder Kieren Jack admits he knew little about the game when he decided to chase his AFL dream.

"I think I missed a lot of the fundamentals of the game of AFL as a young kid growing up," Jack said.

"I was a little bit disadvantaged from the Victorian and South Australian kids. I just wasn't taught the knowledge of the game as much as they were, which I found out when I got here.

"That was certainly a challenge, but I've had some really good mentors and coaches who have helped me along the way."

Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Parker will miss up to six weeks after breaking his collarbone in three places against the Western Bulldogs.

"It wasn't quite a straight crack," Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said.

"It was displaced so they had to go in and line it up again and get it in a position to heal.

"Once it's showing signs of healing, then he's allowed to return. That should mean a four to six weeks period before he can return to play."

At the age of 32 and with 289 games under his belt, veteran Swan Jude Bolton collected a career-high 41 possessions in the wet against the Bulldogs.

"For us bigger guys, we curse the rain, but he's special in the rain and it was no different tonight," Jude's teammate Sam Reid said.

"He seems to be getting better. Every pre-season he's at the front of the group and he works so hard and he's a great leader. When you're getting older there's still no limits on how well you can play."

The Swans' big win over the Bulldogs has been soured by a severe injury to midfielder Luke Parker.

"He's got a broken collarbone, so six-to-eight weeks would be a good-case scenario," Sydney coach John Longmire said after the game.

"It's unfortunate for him, he's been a really good contributor for us and is a super young player, hard and tough, and he's had a couple of breaks this year.

"I know he's tough, but I don't think he'll be coming back any quicker than that."

On the eve of Heath Grundy's 100th match, Swans coach John Longmire says Grundy was recruited as a key forward but his career only took off when he moved into defence.

"He was a bit unsure of himself and had some pretty big personalities in the forward line and was just trying to find his feet," Longmire said.

"He would play some good roles and kick two or three and then we wouldn't see him for a little bit and he'd be in and out of the team.

"It wasn't until we moved him to centre half-back that he was selected every week and became a really good player for us."

John Longmire says he doesn't spend too much time worrying about Adam Goodes who is still out of the side after tearing his left quad muscle against Adelaide.

"I don't think it's all about Adam Goodes," he said.

"Adam Goodes hasn't played for a month and won't play for another couple of weeks.

"I'm less about Adam Goodes and more about the players who can actually do something on the weekend. It doesn't concern me too much because there's no point worrying about it."

Marty Mattner has missed just one game since moving to the Swans and will play his 200th game against St Kilda.

"The opportunity they gave me at Adelaide I felt wasn't (the right) opportunity, so to come to Sydney and be given it again and to repay the club with 100 games has been great," Mattner said.

"I just sort of go about my week-to-week job and play my role in the team and do whatever I need to do to make the team better and to win the games."