NOBODY wants to talk about Sydney much any more, for two reasons. One, the Swans are like watching paint dry. And two, we've seen it all before.

That's the popular thinking, anyway. Thinking that needs some serious and urgent revision.

Sydney's 82-point romp over Richmond yesterday was the Swans' 1000th win in VFL/AFL company. But far more significant than that statistical landmark was another serve of evidence that while our attention has long since wandered elsewhere, Paul Roos' team has been sprucing itself up. Not a dramatic, face-changing makeover. More a touch-up, and the addition of some accessories that have given the Swans of 2008 a flashier look. And maybe changed our thinking about just where this season is headed in the process.

The longing of a few weeks back for that supposed inevitable grand final preview between Geelong and Hawthorn in round 17 seems even sillier now than it did then. The Western Bulldogs had been rudely ignored in all that speculation, an oversight corrected once and for all after the Doggies toppled the Hawks, the AFL's last unbeaten team, on Saturday.

Collingwood proved Geelong to be mortal after all last week, and in its demolition of West Coast at the MCG on Saturday, showed off its considerable skill base to go with all the grunt that had been on display against the Cats. A bit like the Swans, in fact. Sydney hasn't dispensed with the foundations of the brand that has made it a perennial finalist for five years now, but Richmond would certainly testify it has some tricks up the sleeve to go with them. Like more run. A bit more youthful exuberance. And clearly, more firepower.

The appetite for the contest and hard work is still there, exemplified in the form of old hands such as Brett Kirk and Ryan O'Keefe. But there's a lot more run and carry about the Swans of the moment. The picking up of Martin Mattner from Adelaide was always going to help Tadhg Kennelly. And the amazing return of Nick Malceski, improving by the week, from a seemingly season-ending injury, has given Sydney three damaging and creative defensive linkmen.

Then there's Adam Goodes. Not for the first time, questions were being asked of the dual Brownlow medallist a few weeks back. His response has been emphatic, even spectacular. Goodes' contender for goal-of-the-year in the first quarter yesterday certainly wasn't the stuff of a dour, boringly efficient team his Swans have been typecast as.

The Swans, when drummed out of last season's finals in week one, looked tired and stale. Sydney of 2008 seems refreshed and rejuvenated. The most obvious sign is in newcomers such as Jarred Moore, Kieren Jack and Craig Bird. Moore adds some grunt and not a little goalkicking nous to the forward set-up. Jack is rapidly proving himself a very accomplished run-with player, yesterday at least curbing dangerous Richmond midfielder Nathan Foley. Bird has midfield smarts, ball-getting ability and, like Moore, a keen eye for a goal.

As have quite a few teammates these days. There's a much greater spread of goalkicking potential across the whole Sydney line-up now. Michael O'Loughlin got three yesterday, but so did Amon Buchanan and a continually-improving Jarrad McVeigh out of the midfield. Sydney booted 21.13 yesterday without the presence of three of its four leading goalkickers of 2007, Barry Hall, Nick Davis, and the departed Adam Schneider.

The Swans have topped 100 points now five times in their 10 games. They only managed more than 100 on six occasions in the whole of 2007, averaging nearly two goals more a game in 2008. All of that without having traded in their tried and trusted benchmarks of competitiveness.

Richmond has shown some real flair and improved form over the past month or so. It was never allowed to yesterday, the Tigers continually forced into error and costly turnovers by the Swans' defensive pressure.

And when the ball did head into Sydney's defensive territory, it was repelled with interest, as usual. The Swans are conceding only 74 points a game so far this season. The next best defensive outfit, Geelong, has allowed in 103 points more than its measly northern rival.

If defence is indeed, as we're continually told, the most reliable indicator of premiership credentials, then that figure alone should suggest Sydney's September aspirations should be taken very, very seriously.

Some of us don't think it's quite that simple. But add a forward set-up more than holding its own and set to be improved considerably still with the return of Hall, plus a midfield that spreads further and deeper and with a wider array of styles, and you have a compelling argument that the Sydney that has left a lot of football aficionados yawning in disinterest is no longer the Sydney with which we're dealing.