ALL the talk in the lead-up to the Swans' season-opener had been about regeneration and fresh faces. But after they failed to crack St Kilda's stubborn resistance in Saturday night's accident-prone battle of attrition, it was apparent that a handful of veteran stars would again shape the Sydney's fortunes.
Unfortunately for the Swans, it was the failure of Adam Goodes, Barry Hall and - most surprisingly - Brett Kirk to make an impact on an agonisingly tight contest, rather than some vintage performances from that storied trio, that demonstrated their continued importance to a team attempting to inject new Bloods while remaining in premiership contention.
Goodes had burnt up the pitch in practice games and seemed set to continue his brilliant form from late last season. Instead, in gathering just seven possessions against the disciplined tag of Leigh Fisher, he was unable work his way into the contest, with a goal early in the final quarter his only significant contribution.
Like early last season, the vast gap between Goodes's brilliant best and his quiet nights was a source of frustration for Paul Roos. "We just can't afford for him to have games like that," the coach said.
Hall seemed more energetic than last season when he was hobbled by a groin injury and, given the defensive wall in front of him, did not get silver service. But the big spearhead again dropped easy marks - something once explained by poor night vision, supposedly corrected by laser surgery since - and did not seem particularly confident in front of goal. After marking 45 metres out in the third quarter, Hall passed to Craig Bird, who was no closer, and the rookie failed to make the distance.
Given his renowned love of jungle warfare, Kirk's inability to impose himself on a scrappy arm-wrestle was even more disconcerting. But, more so than any Swan, you can hardly begrudge the Buddhist warrior one quiet night.
As a result of those three sub-par efforts from their stars - and a couple of missed shots late in the game - the Swans trudged from the Telstra Dome without the four points, but with reason to believe there are better things ahead. "We didn't expect miracles playing a team widely touted to finish in the top two with some kids coming into the team," Roos said. "There's obviously some improvement there [to come] from us."
The addition of four inexperienced players brought inevitable highs and lows. Jarred Moore made some costly turnovers early and missed a shot that could have given the Swans the lead in the dying moments, but made a solid contribution. Kieren Jack's attack and energy stood out. Bird had some deft touches but, like most debutants, struggled to adapt to the pace of the game.
Perhaps more telling for the Swans' prospects this season were the successful returns from long-term injury of Tadhg Kennelly and Lewis Roberts-Thomson. Kennelly's run and carry out of defence was outstanding and Roberts-Thomson gradually regained the confidence that was drained when he carried a serious foot injury into a nightmare 2006 grand final.
But, rather than individual performances, the game will be remembered for the scrappy nature of the contest, with St Kilda recording the lowest winning score (51 points) at Telstra Dome. Add the fact that the winning goal was kicked by ex-Swan Adam Schneider in the third quarter and you have the making of another "ugly football" debate.
Saints coach Ross Lyon, who put big numbers behind the ball in the first quarter when the Saints dominated the game, called it "jungle ball". "We'll take the four points and move on," he said, clearly conceding that both teams would need to improve markedly to challenge the competition's high-scoring pacesetters Geelong.
Roos said the poor goalkicking gave a slightly false impression of the contest. "Make it 15.6 instead of the other way round and it looks a bit different," he said. "When you have that many points kicked it means the teams are constantly starting from kick-ins deep in defence rather than the middle of the ground."
But the stalemate also owed something to like-minded coaches refusing to break. "St Kilda had numbers back and when you try and spread and run from defence that can be an attacking move," said Roos. "But when the [opposition] defence holds its ground [as the Swans did] then it can become a defensive struggle."
Arm-wrestles such as that are usually won by iron discipline from one team, peppered with acts of individual brilliance. The type of brilliance the Swans need from Goodes, Hall and Kirk and a few others if they are to defy gravity by contending for the title even as they endure generational change.
