The club:
Formed: 1874 (as South Melbourne)
Joined AFL: 1897
Premierships: Four – 1909, 1918, 1933, 2005
Last finals appearance: 2007, second elimination final (v Collingwood)

2007 at a glance:

The Swans made the finals for a fifth consecutive season but the end result was ultimately disappointing – bundled out in the second elimination final by Collingwood by 38 points. After appearing indestructible throughout the previous two seasons, Paul Roos’ side battled injuries in 2007, notably to spearhead Barry Hall, Tadhg Kennellly and Leo Barry.

2008 to date:

The Swans’ enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, pre-season campaign but their home-and-away form line is pretty impressive. After losing to NAB Cup winners St Kilda by two points in round one, the Swans came out last week and beat Port Adelaide by 68 points. The Power, of course, had previously gone down to currently all-conquering Geelong by only nine points in a round one Grand Final rematch.

The coach:

For such a widely respected football figure, Paul Roos has a strange knack of attracting odd controversies. But when he’s not having to deny “tanking” and “tunnelling”, Roos is also a top notch coach, with 82 wins from 134 matches – including the 2005 premiership.

Missing in action:

The Swans dodged a bullet this week when Adam Goodes beat a striking charge at the tribunal. Of the rest of their potential first-stringers, Peter Everitt, Nick Malceski, Nick Fosdike, Tim Schmidt (all knees) and Henry Playfair (hamstring) are currently sidelined.

The gun:

Barry Hall might have relinquished his share of the Swans captaincy, but he remains one of his side’s most potent weapons. Although hampered by a variety of injuries last year, the big forward still managed to kick 44 goals from 20 games. Hall had groin, nose and eye surgery in the off-season and his haul of 5.4 against Port showed he’s back in peak form. Looms as a big challenge for Lions full-back Daniel Merrett.

The bolter:

Jarrad McVeigh could likely walk unnoticed past most footy fans down the street. But having been taken with the No. 5 pick of the 2002 National Draft, he’s the second highest draft pick on the Swans’ list (behind, Fosdike, who was taken at No. 3 in 1998). The younger brother of Essendon star Mark McVeigh is a late bloomer who has blossomed into a valuable utility, capable of playing a shutdown role or providing attack. Briefly infamous for not kicking a goal in the NAB Cup, McVeigh booted two amid 18 possessions against the Power.

Strengths:

The Swans have been known for their effective if not always aesthetically appealing brand of grinding and disciplined football. But last week they showed another side to their collective character with 22 goals and some fine attacking play in an emphatic win over Port Adelaide. The Lions won’t necessarily want Saturday night’s match to be an in-tight slog but, based on the Swans’ showing in round two, they won’t want it to be a shoot-out either.

Weaknesses:

With the potential to play Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw, Jared Brennan and a resting ruckman inside the forward 50m, the Lions have the chance to stretch the Swan’s relatively small key defenders. Ex-Lion Craig Bolton and Leo Barry stand only 190cm and 184cm respectively. Darren Jolly is a good ruckman but who knows what Lewis Roberts-Thomson will produce in the role of pinch-hitting back-up – as he filled last week.

Running hot:

Gun half-forward Ryan O’Keefe is yet to kick a goal this season but has had 38 possessions across two games … conversely, Michael O’Loughlin had only 11 disposals but managed to kick four goals versus the Power. Shopped around at trade time, in-and-under midfielder Jude Bolton was in good form against Port Adelaide with 20 touches and five tackles.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club