Making a Grand Final takes plenty of planning, execution and a little luck.

But the list management teams of both clubs have been building towards this weekend for some time.

Recruiters work three or four years in advance, drafting players and targeting others to either reach the top of the ladder or stay there.

AFL.com.au has taken a look at the clubs' 25-player squads (including their preliminary final line-ups and three other possible inclusions) to see how the Swans and Bulldogs have constructed their Grand Final teams.

The Swans have nine players in their squad of 25 who were drafted in the fourth round or later (including the rookie and pre-season drafts), while the Dogs have eight.

In a slight difference, the Swans have picked up six players from other clubs, including genuine high profile and high-priced recruits.

SYDNEY SWANS

(Including possible Grand Final inclusions Callum Mills, Jarrad McVeigh and Ted Richards)

First round picks
Callum Mills (No.3)
Jarrad McVeigh (No.5)
Gary Rohan (No.6)
Zak Jones (No.15)
Isaac Heeney (draft pick No.18) 
Tom Mitchell (No.21)

The Swans' first-round picks are a mixed bag. Two (Mills and Heeney) were highly rated academy products who everyone knew would have an impact early in their careers. Mitchell was a father-son choice, but could be set to play his last game with the club as Hawthorn tries to entice the inside midfielder to Melbourne. Rohan's injury troubles have limited his career, while Jones is reaching the end of his third AFL season but looks a long-term half-back. Besides the Mills matched bid last year, McVeigh is the club's earliest draft choice since 1998 and has let nobody down in his excellent career. All are ticks. 

Second round
Dan Hannebery (No.30)
George Hewett (No.32)
Luke Parker (No.40)

Most clubs should find good players with their first-round draft choices. The best clubs make successes of their second- and third-round picks, with the Swans a prime example of that. Two of their best players – Hannebery and Parker – have been second-round picks. Parker, who finished second in this week's Brownlow Medal count, got through to pick 40 as some clubs had a concern over his pace. But the hard-bodied midfielder has grown into one of the competition's stars alongside Hannebery, who was a key player in the club's 2012 triumph. 

Third round
Aliir Aliir (No.44)

It was a surprise on draft night two years ago when the Swans grabbed Aliir with their third-round selection. Many clubs wouldn't have taken him at all, let alone put him on their senior list. But the Swans saw the defender's athleticism and size and believed they could work with him to become a solid player. He has been heavily educated in the art of defence and become a valuable player in the backline for the Swans.

Fourth round or later/Rookie Draft

Tom Papley (No.14, rookie draft)
Jake Lloyd (No.15, rookie draft)
Nick Smith (No.15, rookie draft)
Xavier Richards (No.29, rookie draft)
Harry Marsh (No.32, rookie draft)
Dane Rampe (No.37, rookie draft)
Heath Grundy (No.42, rookie draft)
Kieren Jack (No.58, rookie draft)
Sam Naismith (No.59, rookie draft)

The Swans had nine rookies play in last week's preliminary final win over Geelong, meaning nearly half the team had been overlooked at at least one national draft (and often more). Papley has been the latest success, graduating from the rookie list to kick 29 goals this year. The success of the Swans over a long period of time has allowed the club to give more time to some prospects to develop as rookies, with Richards' improvement and impact this season coming after several years at the club. Because of the high-quality top end of the Swans' list, they have been forced in some ways to use more and more of their later picks and rookies at senior level. But they have a number of successes in this batch. 

Trade/Free agency
Ted Richards (traded from Essendon for draft picks 19 and 50)
Josh Kennedy (traded from Hawthorn, with Ben McGlynn, for draft picks 39, 46 and 70)
Lance Franklin (restricted free agent)
Ben McGlynn (traded from Hawthorn, with Josh Kennedy, for draft picks 39, 46 and 70)
Kurt Tippett (No.11, pre-season draft)
Jeremy Laidler (delisted free agent)

Franklin and Tippett are the big ones here. Neither was at the Swans when they last saluted for a flag in 2012, and they have been brought into the club for premierships. The Swans didn't give up anything for the expensive duo except salary cap cash (and the resultant trading ban that was enforced by the AFL) and a flag this weekend would justify their additions. Kennedy and McGlynn came at a basement price, while the Swans spotted something in Laidler that former Blues coach Mick Malthouse couldn't. He has been a low-cost option and a consistent performer.