Why the Swans are not dead and buried

FUTURE Swans leader Isaac Heeney has revealed an usagainst-them mentality has been the catalyst behind the inspiring platform the Bloods have built for a 2020 resurgence.

Superstar Lance Franklin has already been ruled out of next weekend’s clash against Port Adelaide, leaving only two possible matches for him to come back and celebrate his 300-game milestone.

Key figures Jarrad McVeigh, Sam Naismith and Colin O’Riordan are also no closer to returns.

Sydney has won just six matches this season, but has only been blown out of the water by 30 points or more on one occasion — despite the injury crisis. It’s been thanks in no small part to an oldfashioned siege mentality.

The Swans were written off early in the year as doomsday predictions came in about how long a rebuild might take.

Critics wondered whether the Swans were waving the white flag by dumping key back Lewis Melican in the same week Dane Rampe had been ruled out with a freak eye injury. But Sydney’s gutsy twopoint loss to GWS illustrated the toughness that suddenly has the young Swans well placed to immediately challenge for finals again next year.

Heeney admits the young playing group has used the wave of outside voices writing them off to fuel their extraordinary defiance in the imposing odds that have been stacked against them.

“We haven’t been blown out all year [except once against the Giants at the SCG], and that’s credit to the lads. We used that stuff [predictions of a thrashing] throughout the week as a bit of motivation,” Heeney said.