The Sydney Swans may well have sewn up the minor premiership against the Western Bulldogs, but the make-up of their side is still very much up in the air. Gary Rohan, Shane Biggs, Dean Towers, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Mitchell, Harry Cunningham and Jake Lloyd are all competing for spots ahead of the finals. Of that group Lloyd and Mitchell were the two standouts against the Dogs. They all made a point of chasing hard and providing the kind of pressure that could earn them the nod in September. The fact that best-22 locks Ben McGlynn (calf), Josh Kennedy (hamstring), Craig Bird (knee) and Sam Reid (hip) are to come back into the team makes next week all that more interesting.

 

The engravers may as well start emblazoning Lance Franklin's name on this year's Coleman Medal after the Sydney Swans star forward all but sealed the result with one round to play. Franklin booted four first-half goals, before adding two more in the second half. Franklin (67) now sits nine goals clear of former Hawks teammate Jarryd Roughead (58) in the race for the leading goal kicker's award. Even if Buddy is rested against Richmond next week, it is extremely unlikely his third Coleman medal is in danger.

 

In one of the more puzzling selection moves this year, Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney decided to drop Will Minson from the side and go with the tall duo of Ayce Cordy and Tom Campbell against the Sydney Swans. Despite being ranked second in the competition for hit-outs a game, Minson found himself playing for the Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL on Sunday. Cordy and Campbell (who was subbed out of the game with an eye injury in the second quarter) were comprehensively beaten by Mike Pyke. It begs the question, where does that leave Minson? The 29-year-old ruckman is contracted until the end of 2016, but will a team vying for a premiership come knocking? Time will tell.

 

Even when he was picking up 64 disposals in the NEAFL earlier in the year, the Sydney Swans decided to play it patiently with youngster Tom Mitchell. With Josh Kennedy sidelined by a hamstring injury, the 21-year-old finally got his opportunity back in the senior side. Mitchell fitted in to the Swans' midfield seamlessly, gathering 22 disposals. Swans coach John Longmire has said in the past that he considers Mitchell to be in the Swans' best 22 and the youngster's clearance work (six clearances) on Sunday suggested he will be thereabouts come finals time.

 

Jonathon Patton's recommitment to Greater Western Sydney last week would have been a cutting blow for the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had reportedly offered Patton $5 million over five years to come to the Whitten Oval via a trade, but ultimately missed their man. Their lack of a key target up forward against the Swans was glaring. Jake Stringer is a fine player but would be ideally suited to a third tall role, while Stewart Crameri is more of a mobile forward. Missing out on Patton was one thing, but it's becoming increasingly clear that they need to do everything they can to lure a tall and talented key forward. It's the one area where they are desperately lacking.