Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and Kurt Tippett: at their best it's a trio that should make any opposition defence sweat – but it's far from set in stone that will be the combination Sydney will take into the finals.
The Swans have an imposing record when all three are up and going, but it has not been a common occurrence in the near four seasons they have been in the red and white.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
- Video duration
- 03:58
FootyFix: Top four battle for fellow ...
FootyFix: Top four battle for fellow felines
Sam McClure previews all the footy action ahead of round 21 in the AFL.
Up Next
Scott reflects on wily Stevie J
- Video duration
- 00:41
- Video duration
- 00:41
Scott reflects on wily Stevie J
Scott reflects on wily Stevie J
Geelong coach Chris Scott reflects fondly on Steve Johnson as he announced his retirement at the end of season today.
Up Next
Stevie J announces his AFL retirement
- Video duration
- 00:55
- Video duration
- 00:55
Stevie J announces his AFL retirement
Stevie J announces his AFL retirement
Greater Western Sydney and former Geelong forward Steve Johnson has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2017 season.
Up Next
Jobe Watson retires
- Video duration
- 01:01
- Video duration
- 01:01
Jobe Watson retires
Jobe Watson retires
Essendon's Jobe Watson announces his retirement at the end of season.
Up Next
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade sacked
- Video duration
- 00:42
- Video duration
- 00:42
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade sacked
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade sacked
Gold Coast have sacked coach Rodney Eade after three disappointing seasons at the helm of the AFL club.
Up Next
AFL plays of round 20
- Video duration
- 01:33
- Video duration
- 01:33
AFL plays of round 20
AFL plays of round 20
It's all about the six pointers; Hannebery through traffic kicks a ripper, Coniglio has a claim to GOTY in Canberra, McDonald-Tipungwuti nutmegs Petrevski-Seton at the G, Billings clutch kick against West Coast and Eddie Betts is back from surgery to work his usual magic from the pocket.
Up Next
Dockers end their losing streak
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Dockers end their losing streak
Dockers end their losing streak
After a scrappy start, Fremantle stormed ahead of the Gold Coast Suns, forward McCarthy booting four goals helping the Dockers cruise to an easy 23-point victory.
FootyFix: Top four battle for fellow felines
Sam McClure previews all the footy action ahead of round 21 in the AFL.
They have featured in just one September campaign together – in 2014 when the Swans made the grand final – and played just 33 of a possible 93 games together, for 24 wins and nine losses.
As the numbers suggest, it is a formula that works. Franklin's speed and skill, combined with Reid's sticky hands and athleticism, and Tippett's ability to push forward to take big marks. The big if, however, is Tippett.
Barring a late run of injuries, it's unlikely the settled Swans will make many changes in the coming weeks, but the ruck spot is still up for grabs.
It is a three-way battle between project player Sam Naismith, back-up Callum Sinclair and Tippett, comfortably the most accomplished of the three, but who has spent much of the season rotating from the casualty ward to the NEAFL.
The Swans could well show their hand at the selection table for this week's game against Fremantle if Naismith, their first-choice ruck for much of the year, proves his fitness at training on Thursday, giving them all three to pick from.
With Dockers behemoth Aaron Sandilands injured, the Swans have scope to experiment, but the clash next week against Adelaide's Sam Jacobs looms as a potential D-Day.
Naismith is the purest ruckman of the three with his tap work but, having yet to kick a goal this year, does not offer as much in attack or around the ground as the more mobile Sinclair or the high-marking Tippett.
Sinclair started the year as the third seed but has played well in two of his three games back. His marking has improved considerably but there remains a big gap between his best and worst.
When fit and firing, Tippett is one of the best ruck-forwards in the competition as he showed in the back half of 2015 and the first half of last year before being sidelined by a serious hamstring injury. The Swans know they are a better team when Tippett is at his best.
As forgettable as his season has been, the maligned big man has seven weeks to silence the critics who feel his on-field deeds have not justified his massive pay packet.
Tippett's 2017 campaign has been cruelled by ankle and hip injuries, which have affected his training and not allowed him the continuity he needs, but he has benefited from his recent time out.
His numbers in his comeback game against Geelong – eight possessions, 16 hitouts and no goals or contested marks – were modest, but the Swans felt he had an influence. In racing parlance, he will be better for the run.
"He contributed pretty strongly, he competed in the air quite well, he rucked quite well," coach John Longmire said.
"There was a big tackle in the last quarter from the centre bounce. He competed quite well."
Another factor is whether the Swans play just the one frontline ruck or two. When Tippett was at his top last year he played as the No.1 with relief from a forward.
But do the Swans believe Tippett can return to that level now to justify playing him one out with assistance from Reid or Dean Towers, or do they need a second big man in Sinclair or Naismith, which could leave them top heavy?
The Swans played some of their best football this year with one specialist ruckman. If Tippett rediscovers his form of early 2016, he is that man.