The story so far…

For the third consecutive year the Sydney Swans are positioned nicely in second spot on the ladder - separated from first only by percentage - with a 10-3 win-loss record after their first 13 games.

In 2014 and 2015, the Swans were ranked third at a similar stage with the bye arriving a week earlier in both seasons.

What’s been most impressive about the Swans’ form is they’ve managed to blood six debutants while remaining ultra-competitive with notable wins coming against finals contenders in North Melbourne, Hawthorn, GWS and West Coast.

With games against Western Bulldogs (6th), Geelong (1st) and Hawthorn (4th) straight up following the bye, the Swans’ top eight credentials will be tested but the story so far tells us they’ve been up to the challenge.

The stats that matter (Part 1)

A number of Sydney’s key play makers feature heavily in calculations on the subject of league-wide stats.

Lance Franklin is not only leading the Coleman Medal race with 47 majors to date, one more than West Coast’s Josh Kennedy, but is bringing others into the equation as well by leading the competition for scoring involvements (9.2 average).

Whether it’s Franklin or another target, Harry Cunningham ranks as the competition’s best for finding a teammate inside 50 with an efficiency rate of 80 per cent.

At the other end of the ground Ted Richards has collected enough intercept marks in his six games this season to rank third (3.0 average), equal with Carlton’s Sam Docherty and behind Collingwood’s Ben Reid (2nd, 3.3) and West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern (1st, 5.1).

Overall, midfielder and reigning Club Champion Josh Kennedy has earned 17.9 player rating points this season (4th), followed by Franklin (16.2, 11th) and Dan Hannebery (16.2, 13th).

Tom Mitchell has been a key member of the midfield this season.

The stats that matter (Part 2)

From a team’s perspective, the Sydney Swans rank highly across a number of the competition’s key metrics including contested possessions, tackles and clearances.

Sydney, as we all know, like winning the hard ball. The stats back that up assertion given the Swans top the competition for contested disposals (165 average per game).

When they’re not in possession, they’re hunting ferociously by the look of the tackle count (1108).

Led by Tom Mitchell (ranked 4th individually), the Swans have laid more tackles and average more per game (85.2) than any other side.

This ranking was bolstered recently when they broke the record for the most tackles ever recorded in a single game (155), against Melbourne on Sunday.

Sydney’s midfield is also a front runner in the clearance column (4th), helped largely by their impressive work around the stoppages (1st).

Debutants

The Sydney Swans have blooded six players this season, the most of any other side in the competition

Who could forget the three debutants who helped defeat Collingwood in a breathtaking start to 2016?

Callum Mills, Tom Papley, George Hewett burst onto the scene and have played huge roles within the senior side, most notably Mills who has missed just one game (management) to date.

Aliir Aliir, Harry Marsh and Jack Hiscox have also played a part in a side sitting equal on points with ladder leaders Geelong.

It has not only been the debutants who’ve impressed. The likes of Tom Mitchell, Jake Lloyd, Zak Jones, James Rose and Dean Towers have continued to develop and have contributed heavily to the Swans’ standing after Round 13.

George Hewett has played all but two games since his Round 1 debut.

Goals galore

Lance Franklin is enjoying his best year in front of goals since his Coleman Medal winning year of 2008.

Then at the Hawks, Buddy was in another stratosphere back then having kicked 61 goals at the same stage of the season (after Round 13).

He’s on 47, one more goal than reigning Coleman Medallist in West Coast’s Josh Kennedy.

While it’s difficult to see him reach to the 100-goal mark by year’s end, the race to the coveted award will be an exciting one if Buddy can maintain or improve on his current 3.5 goal average (and sneak in a few bags every now and then).

Nothing’s out of the question when it comes to superstar.

The wounded

The Sydney Swans have had both good and bad luck on the injury front.

A relatively good run with injuries has been a big contributor to the Swans’ strong first half of the season.

A magnitude of AFL-listed players has been available to the dominant NEAFL Swans for most of the season. In turn that depth has seen competition for senior spots remain steady throughout which has translated into performance.

But when injuries have occurred, players have been sidelined for a long periods of time including the likes of Sam Reid, Michael Talia, Dan Robinson and most recently Kurt Tippett.

Ted Richards has also missed a chunk of the season, first with a fractured eye socket and then more recently with concussion. The veteran featured at NEAFL level last weekend and should be in the frame for senior selection for Round 14.

And, after playing the first eight games since debuting in Round 1, Tom Papley has missed the last three matches with shin soreness but is nearing a return.

Kurt Tippett's injury is treated during the Swans' Round 12 encounter with GWS.

Top notch milestones

Heath Grundy is the latest player in the red and white to celebrate a milestone this season, with the veteran defender ticking off game 200 against Melbourne on Sunday.

Premiership teammates Dan Hannebery (Round 6 v Brisbane) and Nick Smith (Round 9 v Hawthorn) reached their respective 150-game milestones.

On the lower end of the spectrum, two of the Swans’ emerging midfielders Jake Lloyd (Round 7 v Essendon) and Tom Mitchell (Round 11 v Gold Coast) played their 50th game.

Thankfully, all have enjoyed wins to mark the occasion.

Next on the list: Kieren Jack. The co-captain, barring any mishap between now and then, is due to line up for his 200th against Geelong in Round 16.

Heath Grundy leads teammates down the race following his 200th game on Sunday.

Events that got us talking

How can we not begin with the permanent move back the SCG?

On the eve of the Round 1 blockbuster against Collingwood, Swans hierarchy reached an agreement with ANZ Stadium and moved all remaining regular season home games at the venue back to our spiritual home.

Weeks later the 50,000th member was welcomed into the Sydney Swans family. In doing so, the red and white became the first Sydney-based sports team to achieve such a feat.

Round 3’s clash against GWS was dedicated to three premiership stars – Adam Goodes, Mike Pyke and Rhyce Shaw – with a 37,000-strong crowd farewelling Goodes and Pyke during a lap of honour at half-time.

The Sydney Swans also celebrated Indigenous Round with Marn Grook at the SCG, squared off with cross-town rivals GWS in the latest instalments of the Sydney Derby and won a number of trophies including the Marn Grook Trophy (v North Melbourne), White Ribbon Cup (v GWS) and HMAS Sydney Trophy (v West Coast).

Mike Pyke and Adam Goodes complete their lap of honour at half-time of the Swans' Round 3 clash with GWS.