IT TAKES extraordinary efforts to win an epic Grand Final and the Sydney Swans, with their famous 'Bloods culture', have become specialists in that regard.
Seven years have passed since the Swans beat West Coast in the classic 2005 Grand Final, but the legacy of that team was evident all over the MCG on Saturday.
The 10-point win was a triumph for the Swans' coaching succession plan, which saw John Longmire become a premiership coach in his second year after taking over from Paul Roos, whom he thanked on the podium.
And it was a triumph for the Bloods' culture fostered under former captains Brett Kirk and Barry Hall and continued under current leaders Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh.
The Swans had to draw on all their revered spirit and courage to overcome favoured Hawthorn in a modern classic, particularly in the final quarter.
There was Alex Johnson and McVeigh's smothers, Lewis Jetta putting his body on the line in a 50-50 contest, Adam Goodes firing into Lance Franklin and Kieren Jack keeping his feet in the goalsquare when Clinton Young went to ground.
These were the efforts that got the Swans over the line when nothing less would do, but it was their tackling from the opening bounce that was a constant.
Saturday's Grand Final was the first time the Swans managed more than 100 tackles in a game this season, eclipsing their previous bests of 99 against Adelaide in round six and 90 against Essendon in round 11.
Ryan O'Keefe, a fitting Norm Smith medallist in that context, had a game-high 15 tackles. A premiership player in 2005, he is well versed in the Bloods' way.
"The guys that have been around for a while, when we built this from the ground up, we just try and set a good example," O'Keefe said.
"It's not all talk. It's about actions and we tell the guys if you want to be a part of it you jump onboard and help drive it as well.
"It's all about the people ... it's a pretty special bond we have."
As much as the Swans' win was built on culture and effort, there was method that played a vital role in a seesawing epic.
Hawthorn played the opening term on its terms, clogging the Swans' scoring avenues with loose defender Josh Gibson and winning the midfield battles, best illustrated by a 4-0 advantage in centre clearances and a 43-31 edge in contested ball.
The Swans typically thrive on repeat stoppages in their back half, using their 'slingshot' attack on the rebound to score. But the Hawks were having none of it and Longmire's men managed just one goal to quarter time.
A tactical shift was required and the Swans played one-on-one football in the second term, robbing Hawthorn of its loose man and kicking six unanswered goals.
"We made a couple of adjustments at quarter-time according to the conditions and the players were able to then get on top and get the momentum," Longmire said.
"Kicking straight makes a difference. We took our chances when we had to and that's so important."
Mitch Morton, who kicked straight twice late in the second quarter to give the Swans a 16-point lead, was a player who didn't fit in at the club mid-season.
As good as he was offensively, he was told by teammates that they didn't trust him to do the defensive things that the Swans prided themselves on.
His turnaround and contribution on Saturday (he had four tackles to go with his two goals) is a great example of the culture.
"The penny dropped for him," O'Keefe said.
The Swans rode the momentum created by Morton into the second half and kicked the opening two goals.
Nick Smith was blanketing Cyril Rioli, Jetta was involved in every scoring chain, and where Gibson would have enjoyed freedom in the back half in the first quarter, now he was wrapped up by Goodes.
The Hawks' disposal efficiency was a poor as it had been this season, a direct result of the Swans' tackling, and a circuit breaker was needed for Alastair Clarkson's men. Lance Franklin provided it.
The Hawks' game plan started to resemble 'get it to 'Buddy' and get out of the way' as the superstar dragged his team back into the contest and sparked a five-goal run.
With the momentum on its side, captain Sam Mitchell's error in failing to get the ball back to McVeigh on the full after a free kick had been paid was disastrous.
McVeigh was put in scoring range and the Swans entered the final term with a one-point lead after he converted.
Hawthorn took a leaf out of the Swans' book and lifted its tackling in the final term and built an 11-point lead as a result.
Challenged, the Swans did what they do best. Brave midfielder Dan Hanneberry kicked a goal as a result of Jetta's sacrifice, and Goodes put himself where he was needed most.
When O'Keefe chose the wrong option going forward, the Swans appeared exposed before Marty Mattner came to the rescue and provided a great chase down tackle to rescue his team.
Nick Malceski's snap over his shoulder will be remembered as the match-winning goal, but the Swans will no doubt celebrate the match-saving efforts of Mattner on a day when tackling was king.
Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
