Sydney are assured they’ve exorcised their demons after present process a “powerful” overview of their AFL grand ultimate 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 overview 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 mentioned.
“To have the ability to … stare it within the face, to study from it – that’s the one means you’ll be able to go ahead. That’s why we needed to do it.
“We moved our coaching session to right this moment, truly, on the sector as a result of we would have liked to deal with it.
“It was courageous for them. It was powerful to return and watch, however they had been open to it. They wished 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 ultimate 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 ultimate) however I believe that’s sort of what makes you as an individual,” Mills mentioned.
“Whether or not it’s a grand ultimate (loss) or lacking out many of the yr that drives you, you’ve acquired to watch out holding on to that for too lengthy.
“You’ve acquired 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 large stage and put an finish to their poor grand ultimate file.
Sydney, who suffered an 81-point humiliation towards Geelong in 2022, have now misplaced 4 grand finals since profitable the 2012 premiership.
“We’ll change a good bit (of the sport plan). Being a brand new coach, you’ll all the time have a flavour on the way in which that you simply wish to play,” Cox mentioned.
“One of the best sides on this planet defend rather well first.
“The way in which that we defended in our contest (within the grand ultimate) was actually poor.
“We wish to be a crew 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 in a position to try this.
“It’s behind us now, however you’ve acquired to take loads of classes from it.
“Little doubt this soccer membership will play in some large matches to return and once we get there, we’ll be prepared for it.”
Dean Cox. (Picture by Mark Kolbe/Getty Photographs)
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 mentioned.
“He’s actually recognized Don and Kieren from his time right here. ‘Pykey’ coached right here for a protracted time frame.
“For us … it’s about attempting to create a soccer membership that Chad desires to be part of, going ahead.”
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