There is a strong South Australian influence at the Sydney Swans with a number of players, coaching staff and officials coming from the state.

We take a look at some of the current Swans to have hailed from South Australia.

Heath Grundy

The link with Sydney and SANFL club Norwood is strengthened with the fact Swans defender Heath Grundy featured for the Redlegs before being drafted with Pick 42 in the 2005 Rookie Draft.

Originally a forward, then coach Paul Roos moved Grundy into defence which proved a career-defining move. In light of season-ending injuries to key personnel in 2010, Grundy excelled on a number leading forwards and established himself as on of the best key defenders in the game.

Grundy has played 179 matches over 10 seasons to date, including playing a key role in the 2012 premiership on Hawks forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.

It seems Grundy has no intentions on moving home and will be with the Swans for a little while yet having just signed a new three-year deal with the Club.

Heath Grundy celebrates kicking a rare goal for the Swans.

Martin Mattner

Swans premiership defender now development coach Marty Mattner grew up in the small town of Ki Ki, 150km south east of Adelaide.

With a population of 193, Ki Ki is mainly known as the main link between Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as unearthing the talent who split a 12-year AFL career between Adelaide and Sydney.

Studying year 12 at the time, Mattner travelled twice a week to play with Sturt in the SANFL before the Crows drafted the then 19-year-old with Pick 51 in the 2002 Rookie Draft before elevating him to the senior list in his debut season.

Mattner played 98 games as a hard-tackling midfielder before moving to Sydney in 2007 where the backline called and another 124 games were added to the tally.

Placing third in the ’02 Bob Skilton Medal, Mattner would go on to become a consistent performer and play a crucial role in the Swans’ 2012 Premiership.

Martin Mattner went on to be a premiership player with the Swans during the 2012 season.

Jared Crouch

‘Crouchie’ will be largely remembered for playing his part in the 2005 Premiership and his record-breaking durability with 223-gamer holding an AFL record for playing the most consecutive matches since debut (194).

After featuring for Norwood in the SANFL, Crouch was drafted to Sydney in 1995 and after making a last minute debut against Collingwood in ‘98 the ever-reliable defender turned midfielder stayed put.

Crouch placed in the top 10 of the Bob Skilton Medal on six consecutive occasions during his 14 years in the game before hanging up the boots in 2009.

Crouch currently works as one of three development coaches at the Swans.

Jared Crouch celebrates post match with Jude Bolton.

Josh Francou

Way back when, Swans assistant coach Josh Francou became part of history as a foundation player for Port Adelaide when the breakaway to the SANFL club was welcomed into the national competition.

Then 22, the on-baller quickly cemented his spot as one of the more important players at the newly formed club playing alongside the likes of Gavin Wanganeen and Warren Tredrea.

After retiring in 2005, Francou was eventually appointed coach of SANFL club North Adelaide (his original club) before moving to Sydney.

Francou is an assistant to senior coach John Longmire alongside former Power teammate Stuart Dew, Henry Playfair and John Blakey.

Stuart Dew

The senior of John Longmire’s assistants, Stuart Dew enjoyed a distinguished AFL career before taking to coaching post-retirement.

Dew, alongside Francou, was a foundation player at Port Adelaide where the damaging left-footer became a regular in the senior side to manage 180 games over 10 seasons.

Dew called it quits at the end of the 2006 season, a couple of years after winning a premiership with the Power, only to announce a comeback after 12 months out of the game.

After nominating for the 2007 National Draft, Dew arrived at Hawthorn to play 26 games over two injury interrupted seasons.

But all that was overshadowed by Dew’s match-winning role in the 2008 premiership when the veteran booted two goals in the third quarter to help the Hawks down Geelong.

Stuart Dew addressed the players during the half time break.

Tom Harley

Tom Harley is better known for captaining one of the best teams of the modern era, leading Geelong to the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

Overshadowed is the fact Harley spent a season with Port Adelaide in 1998 after being chosen in the ’96 National Draft as a Zone Selection. Prior to that Harley enjoyed a successful junior career with SANFL club Norwood.

Harley was traded to the Cats for Pick 37 in the 1998 National Draft and established himself as a key defender and a three-time winner of Geelong’s Best Clubman Award.

Harley was appointed captain in 2007, led Geelong to its first premiership in 44 years and was inducted into the Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame.

Post-retirement, Harley has a foray in the media as part of Channel 7’s commentary team before finding his way to Sydney where he holds a position as the Swans’ General Manager of Football.

Tom Harley deep in thought during the 2014 National Draft.