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Sydney Swans are back in the water, but need one player to shine if they are to fly into September

Wayne Carey

Just a few weeks ago Sydney were the sleeping giants of season 2017.

Now, the Swans have woken from their slumber, ensuring they're a big chance of playing finals.

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I believe they can win enough games to not only make it into September but to also have an impact.

While their resurgence has been built on a range of factors, if the Swans want to go deep into the finals, they need one man in particular to perform.

And it's not the player you might think.

We know what Buddy Franklin can produce. Likewise, Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker, who have rediscovered their best form after slow starts.

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The missing piece of the puzzle could be Kurt Tippett.

I have been one of his harshest judges.

Unlike Buddy, Tippett hasn't delivered anywhere near as much on the club's investment in him, even if there are reasons for that. Or excuses, depending on how you look at it.

Tippett hasn't had a great run at playing regular footy because of injury. Already this year he's missed four games with hip and ankle problems; last year he missed nine.

Even when he returned late last season, Tippett struggled and in the grand final he was overshadowed by a player who has had his own share of critics, the Western Bulldogs' Tom Boyd.

Overall, Tippett is a more complete player than Boyd, but unlike Boyd, he hasn't stood up on the biggest of stages.

For Sydney to do what the Bulldogs did last year – and make a run at the premiership from the bottom half of the eight – Tippett must find consistency.

At 202 centimetres and 105 kilograms, he's a giant of a man.

He's an unbelievable-looking athlete, who, when he's on, can have a profound influence on his team and that's something I don't say about ruckmen often.

In that ruck-forward position, he needs to provide a target around the ground, while also pushing forward and kicking goals. It's a role he's already proved he can fill.

Just two years ago, he played 22 of 24 possible matches.

In his last five games of that season, including two finals, he averaged 18 disposals, eight marks, three goals and 15 hit-outs. How many other ruck-forwards can boast those stats?

If Tippett can recapture that type of form, there's no doubt Sydney can be a force once more and that's why he's such a crucial weapon.

While you could argue Buddy is more important to the Swans, they don't rely on him like they once did.

They've been spreading the load much better, and even last week against St Kilda had 12 different goalkickers. That's been the real positive in their indifferent start to the year.

The club's spate of injuries has allowed it to uncover young guys such as Oliver Florent and Will Hayward, while Zak Jones has also got a lot more opportunity.

Sam Reid is finally stringing a few games together and, like Tippett, just needs some clear air with his body.

In his first game back against the Saints, Tippett didn't put up massive numbers, but showed enough to say he can still contribute enormously.

You would certainly hope he builds on that performance against Hawthorn on Friday night.

Even though Tippett slotted a nice goal from near the boundary, he also gave one off despite being only 40-45 metres out. That's the type of kick he needs to be taking responsibility for.

Let Callum Sinclair do the grunt work in the ruck, so he can have an impact on the scoreboard. Tippett should have the belief that he can do that.

The question often seems to be: is Tippett hard enough, often enough? I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, because of the lack of continuity he's had due to injuries.

But when you leave a club under the circumstances he did at Adelaide, to become a marquee player elsewhere, there comes a certain level of expectation and pressure.

Few would understand that more than Tippett.

Has he been worth what Sydney have forked out? The simple answer is no. But can he still make good on their faith in him? With a bit of luck he can. Now it's all up to him.