The annual intraclub match is less than a month away and, before too long, the new-look pre-season competition will be here.
Then, the Sydney Swans will be suddenly gearing up for their opening round clash against Port Adelaide.
The new season is upon us and with it comes a renewed feeling of excitement, hope and anticipation.
These are just some of things that’ll be getting tails wagging in 2017.
The prelude
When the Sydney Swans line up for this year’s intraclub it’ll be 132 days since the Club’s last competitive game of football.
That’s a long time between drinks.
While it is against one another, seeing the likes of Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and the Swans’ vast array of young guns out on the park again will be a sight for sore eyes nonetheless.
Then the red and white hit the road for the community series with Coffs Harbour, Albury and Blacktown playing host to some practice matches as a curtain-raiser to the premiership season.
It’s finally here!
“Where has this year gone?”
The customary catchcry for those bewildered at how nearly three months had passed since the New Year’s festivities.
Fear not, however, for March 25th is when the Sydney Swans open their 2017 account.
Port Adelaide are their opponents. The SCG is the venue. 4.25pm is the time. That will be a must see.
A score to settle
Sydney Swans fans don’t have to wait too long for a re-match against the Western Bulldogs.
The Swans’ foes from last year’s Grand Final will again be a tough team to beat.
The two modern rivals meet at Docklands, a venue in which they’ve enjoyed relative success (25 wins, 17 losses), especially against the Bulldogs having won three of three encounters.
The old enemy
Who doesn’t look forward to another encounter against the ol’ foe Collingwood?
We all know what happened last time.
Lance Franklin kicked a goal within the first 30 seconds.
Luke Parker racked up 40 disposals.
And the home side stormed to an 80-point win at the SCG.
Can history repeat?
Captain Kennedy
For the first time in more than a decade the Sydney Swans will have a standalone captain.
Three-time Bob Skilton Medallist Josh Kennedy took over the reins in December and will lead as skipper for 2017.
He has big shoes to fill, taking over from Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack who led the side together for the past three seasons.
But nothing is beyond the contested king who has proven time and again his superiority on the footy field.
New blood
The Sydney Swans have made a habit of unearthing some young guns in recent seasons.
Will we see more come of age in 2017?
Jordan Foote broke through for a debut game last season and is expected to take the step up.
Nic Newman, having been elevated to the senior list at the end of last season, could be in line for an AFL debut.
And could the Luck of the Irish be on the side of Colin O’Riordan? The import exceeded all of Rhyce Shaw’s expectations last season and will come into serious consideration.
Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin
Last season was, in many ways, a huge year for Franklin.
He played every game, averaged 17 disposals and kicked 81 goals to finish just behind West Coast’s Josh Kennedy for the Coleman Medal.
He thrilled crowds with his electric best.
What does the champion full-forward have in store for us in 2017?
Hawthorn
Behind Collingwood, a Sydney Swans v Hawthorn blockbuster has become a must-watch game on the annual AFL calendar.
Previous games have involved high stakes, hard-fought contests and a highly entertaining brand of football.
We play them, not once, but twice.
And this year’s games have an added spice with former midfielder Tom Mitchell now in the brown and gold.
Round 10 at the SCG and Round 19 at the MCG – write them in your diaries.
AJ’s return
Alex Johnson can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
For too long the premiership defender has been doing the hard yards, trying to recover from two ACL ruptures and five subsequent knee reconstructions.
He made inroads towards the end of last season, running laps of the SCG for the first time in 906 days and remains on track for some sort of return to competitive football.
There’s greener pastures for AJ in 2017 – we can feel it.
Shawry’s boys
The NEAFL Swans came agonisingly close to winning last year’s premiership, defeated by the Giants in the dying minutes.
Despite the final game of the season, the minor premiers enjoyed a stellar season under the guidance of first-year coach Rhyce Shaw.
Older and wiser, Shawry will again lead from the front in what’s set to be another big year on the park for the NEAFL Swans.
