WHILE they might still be right in the 2018 finals race, many AFL pundits have put a line through the Sydney Swans.

One of those is triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown, who says the Swans have to make five brutal list management calls at season’s end in order for the club to have a quick ‘reset’.

A horror loss to Essendon on the weekend saw the Swans drop from fifth to ninth on the ladder in one round. And with the hardest run home in the competition, they could miss finals for the first time in nine years.

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Finals Week 1

“I think we know there’s a tipping point … (and) I think the tipping point’s arrived for Sydney,” Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“They look tired, they look wounded.”

So Brown suggested Sydney had to be brutal on some of its long-serving, premiership players at season’s end.

“This is the changing of the guard going forward. You’ll see a different Sydney side of Round 1 of next year,” he said.

Brown said Sydney must consider moving at least five players on.

“They’re five big outs but it’s not end-of-the-world sort of stuff,” he said.

DAN HANNEBERY (27 YEARS-OLD)

Hannebery has played 11 games this year due to injury, but has averaged just 18 disposals — the second-worst tally of his career — and failed to kick a goal.

Despite being out of contract at the end of 2021, Brown said the Swans had to move on Hannebery.

“I think he’ll be on the trade table. He’s on big money,” Brown said.

“Reports that he could potentially be out of there.”

Dan Hannebery could be traded Source: AAP

Gary Rohan (27)

Like Hannebery, Rohan is just 27 and has a lengthy contract with the Swans. His deal runs out at the end of 2020.

But Rohan has had a tough season, booting just seven goals from 11 games and averaging just eight disposals.

“I think he should be traded,” Brown said.

Rohan has been sidelined in recent weeks with a hand injury.

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Speedester Gary Rohan is in the middle of a long-term deal but could be forced out. Source: News Corp Australia

Kieren Jack (31), Jarrad McVeigh (33) and Heath Grundy (32)

This trio is closer to the end of their respective careers than the start.

A coach-in-waiting, many have speculated whether McVeigh could make a similar move to Luke Hodge and relocate to a lower-ranked club to provide an experienced head down back, as well as ease his way into his coaching career.

Grundy, a loyal servant and one of the game’s most durable players of the past decade, was surprisingly left out of the Swans’ recent clash against the Gold Coast, instead running around in the NEAFL. With Aliir Aliir beginning to come into his own, there are question marks over Grundy’s footy future.

Kieren Jack is approaching the end of his impressive career. Source: Getty Images

Statistically, Jack has had his worst season since 2009, averaging just 15 touches from his 14 outings for the Swans this season. However he’s only just turned 31.

“I think most likely they’ll end their careers,” Brown said of the trio.

“Kieren Jack may go on somewhere else.”

Sydney’s Round 1, 2019 line-up

Brown then put together what the Swans’ line-up could look like in Round 1 next year if those five players weren’t at the club anymore.

Jonathan Brown's Round 1 2019 Sydney line-up from On The Couch. Source: FOX SPORTS

It includes a few that have missed the majority of 2018 due to injury, such as Sam Reid, Sam Naismith and Lewis Melican.

It also includes Matthew Ling, the Swans’ first selection from the 2017 draft, and Academy prospect Nick Blakey, who’s set to be the club’s first pick in this year’s national draft.

“There are some younger players, but that’s still a pretty handy team,” Brown said.

While 2018 might end in disappointing fashion, Brown said missing out on finals this season wouldn’t hurt the Swans.

“You love to play finals so the young blokes can experience it for the first time, but I think it’s changing of the guard for Sydney and there’s going to be some big names that won’t be there next year,” he said.