Sydney Swans' terrific trio, from left, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Ryan O'Keefe, who all played in the club's 2005 and 2012 premierships. Picture: Mark Evans. Source: The Daily Telegraph
STUART Dew has seen many great players in his 17-year AFL career, as both a player and a coach.
He rates veteran Sydney trio Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Ryan O'Keefe in the top 15.
"That's how good they are," the Port Adelaide and Hawthorn premiership player and current Swans assistant coach said.
"I've played against them and now I'm fortunate to have a front-row seat in games and at training.
"For their combination of skill, toughness, big-game qualities and work ethic, they don't come much better.
"I'd rate (dual Brownlow Medallist) Goodes alongside Gavin Wanganeen (at Port) and Lance Franklin (at Hawthorn) as the best players I've been involved with for their ability to quickly turn a game.
"And Bolton and O'Keefe would be right up there as far as their all-round package is concerned.
Sydney Swans veterans Adams Goodes and Norm Smith medallist Ryan O'Keefe after last year's grand final triumph. Picture: David Caird.
"Goodes is the first player you give thought to stopping as an opposition club, while having played against Bolton and O'Keefe you knew you were always in for a hard, tough contest. They are battering rams."
Dual premiership players Goodes, Bolton and O'Keefe will etch their names deeper in history against Adelaide tomorrow when they play their 253rd match together.
This equals the VFL-AFL record set by former Western Bulldogs stars Brad Johnson, Rohan Smith and Scott West in 2006.
The Sydney stars' streak began 13 years ago - in round eight, 2000.
Between them they have played a remarkable 907 games, kicked 843 goals and won six flags.
They have been largely responsible for the Swans making the finals more times (11) than any other club since they burst on to the scene in 1999 and 2000.
"They are part of the furniture here," Dew told The Advertiser from Sydney before flying to Adelaide today.
He noted tall utility Goodes is Sydney's games record-holder with 329, and tough midfielder Bolton sits in second position with 311.
Onballer O'Keefe ranks fourth with 267 games - 36 behind club legend Michael O'Loughlin, the only player who separates the group.
The three have played the most finals for the Swans - Goodes and Bolton 23 and O'Keefe 21.
"There's no doubt this club wouldn't be in the position it is without these three players," Dew said.
"To have each played more than 20 finals says a lot about them. Some guys don't even play one."
Goodes and Bolton are both 33. O'Keefe, at 32, is no spring chicken either.
But they show little or no signs of slowing down, having played key roles in Sydney's premiership last year and in its strong start to 2013.
O'Keefe won the Norm Smith Medal in the Swans' stirring grand final win against Hawthorn, finishing with 28 disposals and an extraordinary 15 tackles.
"What they've done on the big stage is outstanding," Dew said. "They've stood up when needed, in big games.
"You know what you're going to get from them because they are consistent and that when something special is needed they will deliver."
Dew said the key to the trio being so good for so long was their work ethic.
"As guys get older, they sometimes train less to manage their bodies. But with these three, they do more.
"Working with (assistant coach) John Blakey, who played the ninth most VFL-AFL games (359), he did the same. As he got older he thought he'd just have to train more or he would fall away.
"These guys are doing the same. Jude and Ryan are always out there doing extras and Goodesy is always the last one off the track.
"Physically, it's a massive achievement, and for our young guys it's a great example they are seeing being set.
"It's why they are still going so strong at ages where most players are either finished or they're struggling at the end of their careers."
Dew said as good as Goodes, Bolton and O'Keefe are as a combination, their different personalities also jelled well with the team, helping to continually maintain and improve the famed Bloods culture.
"It's important for a group to have different characters and they are very different," he said.
"Ryan's very serious and sometimes the boys rib him for his preparation and the fact he even weighs his food.
"Jude just loves footy and is a relentless trainer who just goes 100 miles an hour the whole time.
"Goodesy's quieter but just has that physical presence and star quality that the young players just feed off every word he says and every step he takes.
"They've been ornaments not only to this club but also the game."
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