“The envy of the whole competition”: Do Sydney have the best young core in the AFL?

Former Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes Sydney’s group of players under the age of 26 might be the best in the competition.

While the Swans are a genuine premiership threat in 2022, they’re quite an inexperienced list once you look at the sheer number of young stars currently holding down spots in John Longmire’s best 22.

After a breakout 2021 campaign, the Swans have started this season with a record of 4-1 as the likes of Chad Warner, Justin McInerney, Errol Gulden, Nick Blakey and Tom McCartin have broken out to help the Swans re-join the competition’s elite.

On top of their swathe of budding stars, Cornes believes the way Sydney carry themselves on field is what’s helped turn them into genuine contenders.

“This is a team that’s up for the fight and has a good attitude,” Cornes said on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.

“You look at how hard they run back and support their defence, this is what the best teams in the competition do … Melbourne do it.

“This is what they’re building, they’re building a group of players under the age of 26 that is the envy of the whole competition.”

Cornes believes their leaders in Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney are at the right age to give the side the right mix of superstars, role players and young guns.

“You look at that core group, you bring in Peter Ladhams who was terrific as a trade to go with Heeney and Mills, who are the leaders there and are superstars,” Cornes explained.

“They’ve got good role players, then some young guns in (Braeden) Campbell and (Logan) McDonald who kicked a couple of impressive goals while Gulden and Warner are stars.”

With the right blend of youth and experience, Cornes went as far as to say he can envisage the Swans as premiers come season’s end.

“They’ve got a lot to work with, I reckon they can win it Sydney, they have the tools to be timing their run to play the right footy at the right time,” Cornes said.

“They have enough experience, and the way they go about it is pretty impressive.”

Sydney will look to improve to 5-1 when they face Hawthorn in Launceston on ANZAC Day.