Swans decide conquest is all about contest

SYDNEY will lean on their strength at stoppages more than razzle-dazzle football as they plot a precarious path to the AFL premiership.

Western Bulldogs wowed the competition last year with their frenetic ball movement, barnstorming their way to the flag from seventh on the ladder. The Swans, who host Essendon in an elimination final tomorrow after finishing sixth on the table, are trying to achieve what would arguably be an even more incredible achievement given their 0-6 start to the year.

Vice-captain Luke Parker, who is 24 but will play game No.150 this weekend, has a clear idea of how his side will go about it.

Parker was drafted in 2010 then quickly established himself as one of the Swans’ contested-ball kings. At age 19 he won a premiership but just as impressively played Round 2 of that season, recovering from a broken jaw in just a fortnight.

Nobody in the league as young as Parker boasts his extensive September knowhow, gleaned from 15 finals.

The big-bodied midfielder, who earned the nicknames “man child” and “Terminator” in his first year at the club, says contested possessions and tackles are key at the pointy end of the season.

“This year we’ve gone back to being a hard, inside, contested team,” Parker said yesterday.

“We got back to the footy that stood up in big games.

“That’s how we’ve been playing and that’s what has been standing up. We look forward to challenging teams that are more that uncontested, outside-run (style).”

That list includes Essendon, which almost toppled the Swans in a Round 14 epic this year.

The Bombers looked set to complete an astonishing come-from-behind win, booting seven consecutive goals in the second half. The Swans stopped the blitz then kicked two goals in the final 80 seconds to snatch a one-point win.