Sydney Swans veteran Jude Bolton epitomises the club's selfless attitude, writes Warren Tredrea. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images
I AM officially in love with the Sydney Swans.
While I have been singing their praises for some time, their ruthless demolition of Adelaide has seen the AFL's most disciplined outfit raise the bar even higher.
They are tough, uncompromising, disciplined, ruthless, unselfish, brutal and built with a team-first mentality.
It was just a few years ago that AFL chief Andrew Demetriou branded their style as "unattractive''.
Now they are the competition's measuring stick.
Sydney taught finals aspirant Adelaide a brutal lesson at AAMI Stadium last Saturday and in doing so also fired a warning shot to the rest of the competition bring heat to every contest or go home with your tail between your legs.
In dismantling the Crows on their home turf, the Swans showed why they are so good.
While we all marvel at their super competitiveness, their willingness to go the extra mile for their team-mates was extraordinary.
The players' instruction, encouragement and genuine care for one another is something too few clubs possess.
When premiership defender Marty Mattner surprisingly announced his retirement last week, he went out of his way to explain why the Swans are different from other clubs.
Sure, the players live in a rugby league-oriented state, but what makes the club so special is the close bond between the men who wear the red and white colours.
Most of the players have come from outside the harbour city to ply their trade, so the club is not just their football home but it's where they make their friendships, mix socially and probably meet their partners.
It has a genuine community feel.
When a player arrives at the Swans he is taught immediately that it is more than club it is a way of life.
The famous ``Bloods culture'' is instilled into the playing group and you are either in or you are out. There are no in-betweens.
When a player is rotated off the bench, the encouragement and direction the players give to each other is obvious.
There are no glum faces. Players don't seem to care if they don't get a kick as long as the team prospers. It is refreshing to see.
Selfishness can be an issue at every club. But if there is any sign of it at the Swans, the teams leaders move swiftly to stamp it out and restore the team-first culture.
This can come in many forms calling for the ball in the wrong position, failing to follow instructions or refusing to run both ways with the same intensity.
Veteran Jude Bolton epitomises the selfless attitude that is at the core of everything Sydney does.
On pure talent, he is no longer the first player picked by coach John Longmire.
But he plays whatever role is asked of him and barks orders and encourages his team-mates to play their role within a team. It is why he remains so valuable to Longmire.
Sydney's midfield is the best in the AFL. Co-captain Kieren Jack explained why. ``We really value the ability to play two-way football, transition get back and help the defence and tackle hard,'' he said.
``And once we have the ball, it's go the other way as hard as you can. If you're not prepared to do that, then you won't get a game in our midfield.''
In contrast, Adelaide is being questioned in the same area that the Swans are brilliant at.
The Crows have too many downhill skiers players who don't want to run defensively with the same intensity as they do offensively.
There is no doubt that their on-field discipline levels have slipped from last year's finals team.
Even the most hardened and one-eyed of Crows fans would have left AAMI Stadium on Saturday in awe of the Sydneysiders' workrate and the brutal lesson handed out to their team.
The Swans super team's engine room wasn't created overnight.
Several of their gun midfielders have learnt their trade as run-with players.
Both co-captains, Jack and Jarrad McVeigh, toiled away following and learning from the game's best players before getting the chance to showcase their talents in their own right.
Even All-Australian half-forward and Norm Smith medallist Ryan O'Keefe has made the transition from the forward line to being a tough, accountable, big-bodied midfielder who is now beating the best inside midfielders in the competition, such as Crow Scott Thompson and Bomber Jobe Watson.
His effort in dominating Hawthorn superstar Sam Mitchell in last year's grand final was testament to this.
The Swans are the only team in the competition that can win a game when the opposition is winning a tidal wave of possessions and inside-50s.
They know if they can tackle well they are always a chance of winning.
The Crows dominated early possession until Sydney's tackling pressure and defensive squeeze took hold. Soon after, it was game over. The key statistics were damning.
From the 16-minute mark of the first quarter to the 16th of the third, Sydney had 40 more disposals, 26 more inside-50s and scored 12.9 to Adelaide's 2.6.
Eight of its goals came as a direct result of Crows turnovers caused by the Swans' pressure.
Their tacking ability is second to none and add that to the players' ability to get their arms free when they are tackled and they are more reasons why Sydney is so hard to beat.
And while poor drafting and trading have been key reasons behind Melbourne's woes, Sydney has nailed their picks.
It has taken under-the-radar recruits Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn (from Hawthorn), Ted Richards (Essendon), Rhyce Shaw (Collingwood), Mattner (Adelaide) and Shane Mumford (Geelong) and turned them into stars. Mitch Morton (Richmond) and Andrejs Everitt (Bulldogs) have also been good contributors.
The scary prospect for the Swans' rivals are that Rhyce Shaw, Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and a bloke named Kurt Tippett all missed the Crows demolition.
Be afraid, be very afraid!
Warren Tredrea can be heard on 104.7FM Triple M's Hot Breakfast on weekdays from 7-9am, Deadset Legends from 9am-noon on Saturdays and Triple M Footy.
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