TRUST may be the key to a perfect relationship and it now has become the catalyst for the Swans' ominous surge towards another September.
Sydney produced its best performance of the season on Saturday night at Telstra Stadium, a 17-point victory over finals aspirant St Kilda, 12.10 (82) to 9.11 (65). As the ninth month approaches, it coincides with the Swans finding their form just as in the past two years.
"I think we've got that trust back," defender Tadhg Kennelly said. "We got that feeling, the Swans' feeling, that we're back. Everyone was playing one-on-one football, and it was really contested football.
"It just felt like it was finals football. You can see by the weather, it's that time of year, and there is a bit of a buzz and excitement around the club. There's definitely that feeling that it's coming towards that time of the year.
"Coming off the field last night, it felt just like the last couple of years, really."
Asked if trust was the most important thing to his team, Kennelly said: "Yeah, definitely. If you look at our group and the team we have, you play to get the respect of your teammates. You don't want to let your teammates down and that's something we did do at the start of the year, we let each other down and it was disappointing.
"It's that trust and that feeling that we're back as a team which is more than anything else."
The win lifted the Swans into sixth place on the ladder but now they have some breathing space because of the losses of Collingwood (to Richmond), the Brisbane Lions (to Hawthorn) and the Western Bulldogs (to Melbourne).
If the Swans win their final three matches against Brisbane, Collingwood and Hawthorn, they would finish, at worst, fifth and host a home final. In all probability, though, they would secure a top-four finish.
A milestone match inspired Melbourne to upset the Western Bulldogs and it is hoping an even more significant occasion will fire it up for another victory, over Collingwood on Friday night.
The Demons shocked the Bulldogs with a 19.15 (129) to 12.15 (87) win at Telstra Dome to celebrate ruckman Jeff White's 250th match. But the emotion will go up a cog when captain David Neitz becomes the first player in the Demons' 149-year history to reach the 300-game mark against the Magpies at the MCG.
"I think we have a very good history as a club playing for our long-term milestone people," caretaker coach Mark Riley said.
"The last one I can remember I think might have been a Neitz record-breaking game versus St Kilda, which was outstanding."
Riley said he was thrilled by the performances of some of the club's youngsters, with 19-year-old midfielder Nathan Jones outstanding and 20-year-old Lynden Dunn also impressive. With AAP
