What worked: Dane Rampe was given a chance in the backline following Alex Johnson's knee injury and he responded by playing 23 games. In a reward for perseverance, Jesse White and Andrejs Everitt had their most productive seasons to date, while Jarrad McVeigh earned his first All Australian nod after being shifted into defence. Mike Pyke excelled in the ruck and as a goalkicker, while Jude Bolton's decision to play on for one more year was the right one. Finally, Tom Mitchell showed he is a future star.
What failed: The Swans have one of the most reputable and successful medical departments in Australian sport, but their attempts to get Sam Reid back on the park failed. Following five weeks out with a torn quad, he lasted barely 10 minutes upon his return in round 15 and then fell short in two further attempts late in the season. The jury is also still out on a set-up featuring Kurt Tippett, Shane Mumford, Pyke and White, but it certainly didn't work in the qualifying final loss to Hawthorn.
Surprise packet: Rampe was considered a back-up option at best when he joined the club, but injury gave him a chance and he showed plenty of ability at senior level. White also proved his doubters wrong, playing 15 games and kicking 20 goals less than a year after being offered as trade bait. Shane Biggs was also elevated off the rookie list, making a strong debut in round 23 against Hawthorn before playing in two finals.
Disappointment: Injuries also gave Tony Armstrong a shot early in the year, playing seven of the first 12 games, but he wasn't able to capitalise. A strong finals series for the reserves, however, was an encouraging end to the year. Mitch Morton also failed to build on his remarkable end to 2012. But the greatest disappointment were the players on the sideline – Adam Goodes, Reid, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Rhyce Shaw, Johnson, Tommy Walsh, Marty Mattner et al.
MVP: Kieren Jack
Best rookie/first year player: Dane Rampe
Best win: v Collingwood, round nine at the MCG.
Low point: The qualifying final loss to Hawthorn. With scores level at half-time, there was no indication of what was about to unfold. But two quarters later, a 54-point defeat represented the biggest loss in John Longmire's tenure. Their fourth loss from five games, the lack of personnel had caught up with them and left the Swans facing too many hurdles to get back into another Grand Final.
What needs to improve: A decent run with injury, particularly to their key personnel, should be enough for the Swans to contend once more in 2014. With Bolton and Mattner now retired, and Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe surely not too far behind them, planning also needs to start for the future, although that is clearly underway through Luke Parker, Mitchell, Tippett, Biggs, Harry Cunningham and the rest.
Who's done: Jude Bolton (retired), Mitch Morton (retired), Marty Mattner (retired).
What they need: There aren't really any glaring weaknesses when the Swans have their full complement of players to choose from. There could be a concern in the ruck, with Pyke turning 30 in March next year and Mumford currently out of contract. They also have 203cm teenager Sam Naismith learning the trade in the reserves. They could also use more depth in the backline and a small forward to replace Bolton and Morton, but their midfield looks well stocked.
Darcy says: "That ageing group they can't rely on as heavily as they have done in the past. They really need that generation of young stars to step up. That's where they have to get their improvement from."
