If Malcolm Blight were to put his money on a team to win the premiership right now, who would he pick?
The V/AFL legend won two premierships as a player with North Melbourne and coached the Adelaide Crows to two flags, so is well-versed to cast judgment on what he suspects to be a potential premiership team.
After 11 rounds of the 2024 season, Blight is confident that the high-flying Sydney Swans can conquer all.
John Longmire’s outfit currently sits six points clear on top of the ladder with a 10-1 record and are playing the most attractive brand of football in the AFL, which has caught Blight’s eye.
“There’s something I want to get off my chest and I think I want to say it now,” Blight began on SEN’s Sportsday SA.
“There are a lot of football seasons that come and go. There are a lot of teams you see, some very good teams, some average teams and some poor teams. We know all that.
“Right now, I’m certain I’m seeing the premiership team. I’m starting to think of reasons why (they can’t win it). How can’t this happen for the Sydney Swans?
“I think I’m seeing it. Red and white, a very dominant Sydney Swans.
“They’ve had a few injuries, they haven’t been scot-free off that. Their midfield is young, fit, healthy and happy. They have a reasonable backline with Tom McCartin back in. Then their forward line is looking dangerous.
“I would have to say that Will Hayward is playing well, they’re all playing well.
“With ‘Buddy’ (Lance Franklin) gone, it’s almost like let’s share it between us. It’s almost like John Longmire said, ‘Play on instinct boys. If it doesn’t work, we’ll bring it back from there’.
“I’m sniffing a premiership for the Sydney Swans.”
Co-host David Wildy backed up Blight’s opinion by reeling off plenty of other Swans players who are in great form so far in 2024.
“They don’t have a real weakness,” Wildy said.
“They’ve got the little forwards like Tom Papley, big forwards like Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey. They’re not Buddy-conscious now, they can go down different avenues.
“You’ve got to love Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, and Errol Gulden on the wing. Then you’ve got the tough nuts like James Rowbottom and James Jordon, who can tag and take out the best (opposition players).
“They attack the ball well, all of them.”
The Swans, who have a bye in Round 12, have won their last seven matches.
They next host Geelong at the SCG on the Sunday of Round 13.