Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom and his teammates had an emotionally charged and heartbreaking end to the 2026 season.
The Swans ran out of petrol tickets in the dying stages of their Preliminary Final against Fremantle at the SCG. The dark cloud of the Pullman Five incident and ongoing police investigation has hung over the club for the past two-and-a-half months.
Rowbottom acts as a plug-any-gap role player for the Swans, with his hard edge and manic pressure typical of the Bloods culture, which was on display in an undermanned finals campaign.
Another Swan who played across the ground and impacted the game was off-season recruit Jai Serong, who averaged 18 disposals across 24 matches playing in the midfield, backline, wing and sometimes forward.
Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, Rowbottom said Serong caught the eye from day one of training last summer.
"I think Jai Serong is the one who has impressed me the most," Rowbottom said.
"From the day he has got here at the start of pre-season, his work ethic and his diligence with everything he did and does, and how he carries himself, is a massive reason as to why he had the season that he did.
"A very underrated operator outside the Swans I'm sure but what he was able to do this year was really special."
Rowbottom, 26, has become an early veteran of Sydney's side, having played 163 games since being taken with Pick 25 in the 2018 National Draft.
Despite his experience, the hard-nosed midfielder said he still leans on leaders at the club, Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Tom Papley and Errol Gulden, to grow as a player.
"I think it's been a consistent year (for me),” he said.
"I didn't do anything special or didn't play too poorly. I just trucked along and tried to lead by example, and hopefully I did that for the other boys.
"Mills, Ramps and Paps are the three boys I look up to in terms of how they carry themselves in a leadership sense.
"On field, I worked most closely with Errol on and off the field. His knowledge of the game and the way he sees things is very different to me, and I really appreciate his perspective and the way he carries himself as well is second to none."
Halfback flanker Nick Blakey has left the club, Mills will miss the majority of the season with an ACL injury, while 36-year-old Rampe is weighing up retirement. Without that trio, there is a major hole in Sydney's leadership, talent and defensive pool.
The Swans' end to the year was marred by off-field scrutiny, with Rowbottom thanking Sydney fans for their support in one of the darkest periods for the club.
"I think even the last few weeks (of the season), it was a bit emotional to be honest having their support still there," he said. "Hearing the Sydney chant go around and having a standing ovation when we lost prelim (was incredible)."
