Sydney are assured they’ve exorcised their demons after present process a “robust” evaluate of their AFL grand remaining flop.
Some two months on from their 60-point hammering from Brisbane, new Swans coach Dean Cox formally started his tenure with a day-long evaluate of their September nightmare.
Sydney, after dominating the 2024 season to win the minor premiership, had been bullied into submission by a forceful Brisbane outfit that went on a seven-goal romp to construct a 46-point lead at halftime.
Whereas some golf equipment have shunned or struggled to rewatch a heartbreaking grand-final loss, Cox postponed the Swans’ first official pre-season coaching to dedicate a meticulous pulling aside of their efficiency.
“That was our final efficiency,” Cox stated.
“To have the ability to … stare it within the face, to be taught from it – that’s the one method you’ll be able to go ahead. That’s why we needed to do it.
“We moved our coaching session to as we speak, truly, on the sector as a result of we would have liked to handle it.
“It was courageous for them. It was robust to return and watch, however they had been open to it. They needed to do it, so did myself and us as a soccer membership.”
Swans skipper Callum Mills is eager on letting go of the heartache, having moved on from lacking out on the grand remaining with a hamstring damage.
Mills solely performed seven video games in an injury-marred 2024 marketing campaign, dominated out of the primary half of the season after tearing the rotator cuff in his left shoulder earlier than a calf damage delayed his return additional.
“It was a troublesome week (earlier than the grand remaining) however I feel that’s form of what makes you as an individual,” Mills stated.
“Whether or not it’s a grand remaining (loss) or lacking out a lot of the 12 months that drives you, you’ve received to watch out holding on to that for too lengthy.
“You’ve received to have the ability to separate your self from it and transfer ahead … as a result of I don’t suppose that lasts.”
Defence would be the key “flavour” within the Swans’ new sport plan, with Cox adamant Sydney will return to the massive stage and put an finish to their poor grand remaining document.
Sydney, who suffered an 81-point humiliation towards Geelong in 2022, have now misplaced 4 grand finals since successful the 2012 premiership.
“We’ll change a good bit (of the sport plan). Being a brand new coach, you’ll at all times have a flavour on the best way that you just wish to play,” Cox stated.
“The perfect sides on this planet defend very well first.
“The way in which that we defended in our contest (within the grand remaining) was actually poor.
“We wish to be a group that when the stakes get increased, that’s what we flip to. That’s what we go to and we ship on that. And we weren’t ready to do this.
“It’s behind us now, however you’ve received to take loads of classes from it.
“Little doubt this soccer membership will play in some large matches to come back and after we get there, we’ll be prepared for it.”
Dean Cox. (Photograph by Mark Kolbe/Getty Photos)
Securing Chad Warner’s signature stays excessive on Cox’s agenda, with the star midfielder popping out of contract on the finish of 2025.
The West Australian-born midfielder is already being courted by Perth golf equipment.
Warner reportedly performed golf with West Coast chief govt Don Pyke and offsider Kieren Jack within the low season, however Eagles legend Cox refused to let his feathers be ruffled.
“We take it at face worth,” Cox stated.
“He’s definitely recognized Don and Kieren from his time right here. ‘Pykey’ coached right here for a protracted time period.
“For us … it’s about making an attempt to create a soccer membership that Chad desires to be part of, going ahead.”
© AAP
