But there have been some alarming signs for John Longmire’s side in the latter part of the 2013 season.
Their ability to stop opponents gaining uncontested possessions has dropped off.
Uncontested possessions are an indicator of a team’s work rate.
The Swans’ opponents averaged 193.5uncontested possessions per game against them between round 1-16.
But from round 17-23 that figure jumped up to a staggering 247.3.
Hawthorn then ran riot against Sydney in the qualifying final, amassing 271.
But Sydney showed signs of life against Carlton the following week, restricting the Blues to just 176 uncontested possessions.
Freo averages 231 uncontested possessions in 2013. Its opponents average 226.7.
An area of the game Longmire has indentified as vital is the ruck battle between his big men Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke, and Freo’s Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke.
One thing is certain, there’s no way ‘Sandi’ will bully the Sydney duo around like he did Geelong’s inexperienced rucks in the qualifying final.
"He was on fire against Geelong a couple of weeks ago, he was hitting the ball everywhere at centre bounces, ball-ups, boundary throw-ins,” Longmire said in his media conference this week.
"We need to make sure we nullify that influence.”
The Swans have also gambled on pace and a small forward line structure this week by including Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan to replace the injured Kurt Tippett and Tom Mitchell.
