Crisis measures: An increasingly desperate John Longmire addresses the Swans during their semi-final loss to the Cats. Credit:AAP Grade: A- Unsigned free agents: n/a Retirements/delistings: n/a Key draft picks: 14 and 31 in national draft

Lance Franklin kicked four second quarter goals in the elimination final. He kicked 73 for the season and won the Coleman Medal. Credit:AAP WHERE THEY'RE AT At zero and six, the footy public had little faith the Swans would turn their season around. But did they see the next 17 weeks? They were brutal in the contest with Josh Kennedy leading the way and Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery and a future superstar Isaac Heeney in tow. Heath Grundy was a dam wall in defence and the only two things to bring Dane Rampe undone this year were Patrick Dangerfield (no shame in that) and a park chain (he tripped on one and broke his arm). Callum Mills and Jake Lloyd look to have half-back locked down for the next 12 years and it's hard to believe Lance Franklin is getting better. What he was able to do with a host of inexperienced partners and a revolving door of faces around him, to kick 73 goals this year, as well as fast-track the development of others, should be admired. Sydney can say what they want about Kurt Tippett but it is a lot of money to be spending on someone who is battling injuries and form. The reason you pay these types of players so much is so they are there for sudden-death finals, and he wasn't.

WHAT THEY NEED Sydney need Aliir Aliir to be back to his 2016 best and for the great improvement of Lewis Melican to continue. This will allow Rampe and Mills to be third man up intercept players, a role they are so skilled at. With outside class in Lloyd, Nic Newman, Mills, Robbie Fox, Will Hayward and Oliver Florent coming through, Sydney could use another strong body around the stoppages to partner with Heeney (who will make the move to greater midfield time in years to come), Kennedy and Kieren Jack. WHO THEY SHOULD TARGET