SWANS fans can't shake the nightmare of last season's 0-6 start.
Giving their take on their side's prospects in AFL.com.au's pre-season survey, Swans fans say they fear a repeat of last year's winless March and April.
Road trips to West Coast and Geelong feature in another testing opening to Sydney's season, as well as tough home clashes with premiership fancies Port Adelaide, GWS and Adelaide.
Though the Swans staged an incredible revival to surge into last year's finals, the pressure eventually told in a semi-final thumping by Geelong at the MCG.
Despite their fears of another slow start, almost 90 per cent of fans predict the Swans to secure a better launching pad for a flag assault in 2018 by finishing inside the top four.
Among fans' biggest concerns is support for superstar forward Lance Franklin.
Franklin has added two Coleman Medals since inking his 10-year, $10m deal with the Swans in 2013, but a flag in Sydney colours remains elusive.
Here are the survey results, plus a selection of Sydney fans' responses.
What's the Swans' weakest spot on the park?
The forward line is so dependent on Franklin. If he goes down, Sydney will struggle to kick 100 pts per game and therefore be competitive.
- Phil King, Sydney NSW
Ruck depth. No Tippett puts pressure on the No.2 ruckmen to become No.1s.
- Gary Dangerwood, Melbourne Vic
Keeping cool, defending and getting the upper hand when the opposition has momentum.
- Penny Anderson, Sydney NSW
It'll be a great year if ...
... Jarrad McVeigh goes out with a bang. Sam Reid kicks straight. We can find where Aliir Aliir plays his best footy.
- Libby Yandell, Caulfield Vic
... someone other than Lance Franklin bobs up and kick more than 50 goals.
- Joel McNeill, Alexander Heights WA
... we start winning before round six and our key ball winners Kennedy, Hannebery and Parker stay fit.
- Brad Reid, Cherrybrook NSW
... the mighty Sydney Swans win the flag, Buddy gets the Coleman Medal again, Josh Kennedy wins the Norm Smith and Cyggy gets mascot of the year.
- Ken Jones, Russell Lea NSW
What's your dream headline in 2018?
'Alex Johnson kicks a bag in long-awaited return'
- Hayden Brooks, Sydney NSW
'Isaac Heeney and Lance Franklin form perfect forward duo'
- Elliott Diamond, Bendigo Vic
'Swans demolish Hawks in Grand Final'
- Ben Gillians, Ocean Grove, Vic
What's the headline you secretly dread?
'Swans go one better, start season 0-7'
- Jason McLaughlin, Sydney NSW
'Our Buddy no longer: Swans steel for post-Franklin rebuild after shock early retirement'
- Francis Sweet, Brunswick Vic
'Both Bondi Billionaires gone as Buddy retires only five years into contract'
- Sam Austin, Ashfield NSW
Read more fans' season previews
• Adelaide: Bryce is nice, but backline the worry
• Brisbane: 50 goals for Eric and no spoon, please
• Collingwood: From 13th to a premiership?
• Essendon: Are the bolstered Bombers the complete Package?
• Fremantle: Forward line, forward line, forward line
• Geelong: Grand designs for Gaz's return
• Gold Coast: Key Sun is also fans' biggest dread
• GWS: Time for one Giant leap
• Melbourne: Just make the finals. And beat North
• North Melbourne: Hope for improvement, fear the worst
• Port Adelaide: One sure way to avoid elimination final heartbreak
• Richmond: The No.1 threat to a Tiger repeat
• St Kilda: If there's no KO for Paddy, we'll be OK
