ONCE again, the Sydney Swans are developing an interesting personnel and personality profile at the midway point of the season.

The Swans have used more players than any other team in the top eight, with 34 players taking the field during 2011.

However, they also lead the AFL in the number of players (13) to play every game this season.

Those figures mean the 99 remaining games available to the nine players rotating through the team has been spread across 21 players who have played an average 4.71 games this year.

In another twist, five players have made their debut already in 2011, already above the Swans' average number of debuts (four) per season since 2000.

This one part locked in, other part revolving door when it comes to selection is a good basis for ongoing success, a useful characteristic for a club to have as it strives to make a successful transition between eras.
 
The thirteen players who have played every game in 2011 include their veterans, Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O'Keefe, Rhyce Shaw, Martin Mattner and Ted Richards as well as hard bodies in Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn.

The relatively young players going the distance have been Sam Reid, Daniel Hannebery and Lewis Jetta (who has worn the sub jacket from time to time and is named on the extended bench for this Sunday's game against Carlton).

Such stability among that group helps explain the team's consistent performances (the Swans sit fifth with seven wins and a draw from 11 games) and is a massive bonus with a number of quality players retiring in recent seasons (the latest being Daniel Bradshaw, who unfortunately announced his retirement on Friday after battling knee and hamstring injuries).

The hardcore names of Goodes, O'Keefe and Bolton are permanent fixtures; remarkably, no Sydney Swans side has taken the field without at least one of them in the team since the second semi final in 1998.

Sydney Swans' assistant coach John Blakey - who played 106 consecutive games himself for North Melbourne from 1997-2001 - agrees the resilience of those senior players' is a bonus.

"It makes it a lot easier for us as coaches because you know what you are going to get from them and we know what they're capable of doing and obviously their teammates do as well," said Blakey. "That helps the stability of the side and helps the side to win."

This is not a new phenomenon at the Swans. Famously 19 Swans players played every game between round 14 and the 2005 premiership, with the team remaining unchanged for the last three games of that year's finals series.

Of course, that era of Sydney Swans had three players in the top six of the all-time list of those playing consecutive games without a break with Adam Goodes (204 consecutive games), Brett Kirk (200) and Jared Crouch (194) finishing their sequence between 2006 and 2010.

Former Swan and now Collingwood player Darren Jolly and the similarly durable Ryan O'Keefe also topped the 100 consecutive game mark during this time.

Just to underline his enduring staying capacity, Goodes is already up to 59 in a row this time around.

These numbers (and names) explain why a player had to be pretty special to make their debut the year after being drafted during the Paul Roos' era, with only five (of a possible 25) players drafted between 2002-2008 (Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore, Patrick Vespremzi, Craig Bird - a NSW scholarship graduate - and Daniel Hannebery) playing in their first season with the Swans.

Of course, the club only had one top 10 pick during that time and many players arrived via the trade system to fill spots. Recently that trend has changed.

Between 2003 and 2008 the club averaged four debutants per season but the pace was picking up in 2008 with six new players introduced, four in 2009, five in 2010, making this season's five consistent with recent years. If the trend continues, this could be a breakout year, the first in John Longmire's tenure as senior coach.

This was a function of opportunity as much as anything. Blakey says there was no policy about holding players back: "If a player is good enough, we will play them and that has always been the case," he said.

The past two seasons that long-standing attitude has been obvious for all to see. 

Of the five debutants the Sydney Swans have introduced into the senior line-up already this season, two players - Alex Johnson and Luke Parker - made it to senior level in their first year at the club.

Last year Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Gary Rohan and Trent Dennis-Lane (aged 22 on debut) were first year debutants.

All six players have made vital contributions at various times in 2011.

Reid was nominated for the NAB Rising Star after last week's game (and of course Hannebery won the award in 2010).

Having such a quality group of senior players is a bonus for the club as it attempts to stay near the top while introducing a new crop of players.

"Not only are they great players but they are terrific role models and teachers for these kids as well, so young Sam Reid who is up in the forward line gets to work with Adam Goodes," said Blakey. "It’s a really good blend and these guys just want to help the kids as well."

A really good blend indeed, one that has allowed Sydney to use 34 players (seventh most in the AFL) yet remain in contention for a top four spot midway through the season.

Postcript: Note in the chart below the team that has had the least number of players play every game - Geelong - remains unbeaten after 12 rounds. That too, is a story in itself.

Played every game in 2011
Sydney Swans	13
Carlton	12
West Coast Eagles	12
Brisbane Lions	11
Essendon	11
Richmond	11
Collingwood	10
Fremantle	10
North Melbourne	10
St Kilda	10
Adelaide	8
Western Bulldogs	8
Gold Coast Suns	7
Hawthorn	7
Port Adelaide	7
Melbourne	6
Geelong Cats	4

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs