Despite being on the road for the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Swans forward Hayden McLean has heralded the last two Hub experiences as a major reason the club feels like a family.
Much has been said about the culture of the Bloods that is rich in history and ambitious about the future, and while the current playing group are hoping to forge their own legacy in the red and white, the community feel of the club is what makes it so special.
McLean says the two last year's on-road experience, that saw players and staff endure a crazy three-month travel period, helped bring the playing group closer together and last season allowed them to connect with each other's families.
"I think having two years of hubs has made the playing group really close, McLean said.
"I know the first year we got close but even last year after bringing in families to the hub, the club really feels like a family at the moment. I think that helps us on the track and puts us in good stead going forward this year.
"It's just really good to be back with the players and build that synergy going forward."
Focusing his own energy on an improved individual campaign, McLean is determined to improve on his 2021 form that was cruelly ended by a knee injury sustained in the club's Elimination Final loss to GWS.
Such is his perseverance that McLean says he is now primed for a bigger and better season in 2022, and has his eyes firmly set on a permanent spot in the side's forward line.
"It's been a good pre-season for me. At the backend of last year I was injured and I was just doing my own rehab and running," he said.
"It's good to come back in the new year, I've got the body right and I'm now starting to get back into drills and building up from the last two weeks.
"You take a lot of confidence out of it each year when you keep improving, and I think last year was a big step for me and now I'm just more hungry to go that extra step in 2022."
After playing a career-high 12 games last season which saw him kick 11 goals and average four marks per game, McLean is now filled with an abundance of confidence.
With the likes of Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney helping him through his professional development, he hopes he can continue his rise to prominence and make a stronger impression in the AFL.
"We have a lot of forwards - and whether it's been Heens (Heeney) or Bud (Franklin) or even the coaches like Macca (Jarrad McVeigh), they all have had their little bit of help," he said.
"I know as a forward group we're all really right and we all just want to be playing our best game."
While the Swans were proud of a sixth placed finish after a roller-coaster season that saw the club make significant sacrifices to help the AFL season continue, include lengthy time apart from family and friends, there is a sheer desire to improve and build collectively in 2022.
Along with a positive team ethos and plenty of excitement amongst the players and coaching staff, McLean insists that there is a greater hunger for success moving forward.
"Since we have been back, the boys have been really keen to get going. Everyone is now really hungry and we're all pretty healthy at the moment, which is good," he said.
"I think we need to double down on what we did well last year, and we can also fix a few little things, but it's also about playing to our strengths.
"Individually, I want to take another step on what I did last year and be that big presence down forward."
What's even more exciting for McLean and the club is the prospect of playing in-front of fans and members again at the SCG - with our first match scheduled for Round 2 against Geelong.
"I know in the last couple of years, we have missed that a lot (fans back at stadiums),"
"They give us that little bit of an extra boost out on the ground. We had a bit of a taste last year but hopefully we can get them in and have full crowds and just get back to the usual, because we love it out there with them."
