Sydney Swans hero Leo Barry thinks current team can be better than 2005 premiers

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This was published 7 years ago

Sydney Swans hero Leo Barry thinks current team can be better than 2005 premiers

By James Buckley
Updated

Sydney premiership hero Leo Barry believes the current Swans incarnation can be better than the team that won the 2005 premiership.

Barry, who helped the Swans snap a 72-year flag drought that year with a match-winning pack mark late on against West Coast, has been a keen observer of the 2016 side that finished the regular season as the AFL's best team.

The Swans are warm favourites to book a spot in the preliminary final when they head to ANZ Stadium on Saturday to square off against cross-town rivals GWS.

They closed out the season with six successive wins, and three more would secure a third premiership in 11 seasons.

One of the best: Daniel Hannebury has shone for the Swans this year.

One of the best: Daniel Hannebury has shone for the Swans this year.Credit: Anthony Johnson

"What really stands out, they are consistent across the board like I think we were through that 2005 and 2006 season," Barry said. "The Swannies have got an absolute A-grade midfield. We had a good midfield but we probably didn't have the likes of the real ball winners like [Daniel] Hannebery, [Luke] Parker and [Josh] Kennedy not to downplay the guys we did have in the midfield.

"They're a great team and they've proven that this year with getting five guys in the All Australian which is a huge effort. I've got no doubt that they can certainly challenge again this year."

Hannebery, Parker and Kennedy were all named in the All Australia side on Thursday, alongside backman Dane Rampe and power forward Lance Franklin.

But it's the club's young crop that has really caught Barry's eye this season, particularly first-year players Callum Mills and Aliir Aliir.

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"It's interesting, they've just got structures in place that help when you're a young kid that comes into the footy club," Barry said. "From day one there's a pretty good understanding of what's required of every player whether you're the oldest player on the list or the youngest.

"The Swans have been doing that for quite a few years now. It's shown the benefit of developing these younger kids. It makes a huge difference and that's been one of the reasons why the Swans have been the top of the ladder for the last couple of decades really. We've only missed the finals a couple of times."

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