Pencilling in Sydney for a finals berth has typically been a sure thing, but for just the fourth time in 20 years the Swans look set for a September vacation.
Injuries to key players and off-season losses in Tom Mitchell, Ted Richards and Ben McGlynn have hurt, but it’s been the form of their guns who would be the bigger frustration for supporters.
Dan Hannebery got off the booze in the off-season and somehow still started the year with a hangover, Luke Parker isn’t the star he was and Kurt Tippett is still not justifying his humungous pay packet (Reckon John Longmire might like Toby Nankervis back?).
After showing some signs of life with dominant wins over North Melbourne and St Kilda, last week’s feeble loss to the carcass of Hawthorn leaves the Swans with a seemingly insurmountable challenge to make finals.
There have been some positives, particularly Nic Newman, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent, but based on pre-season expectation Sydney have been biggest disappointment of the year.
