Few in the AFL industry could ever successfully fill the shoes of the "greatest-ever coaches in the history" of the Sydney Swans.
But club great Michael O'Loughlin reckons Dean Cox is on track to do exactly that as John Longmire's successor.
In Cox's second season at the helm, second-placed Sydney (10-2) have established themselves as early premiership contenders, despite numerous injuries.
The Swans led the league for eight weeks before being leapfrogged by Fremantle (11-1) after an away loss to Geelong in round 11.
Riding high after mauling Richmond by 114 points last time out, Sydney are looking to continue momentum towards their round-15 bye with an SCG victory over ninth-placed St Kilda.
O'Loughlin, a 2005 premiership player, hailed Cox's leadership after Longmire's successful 14-year tenure as Swans coach.
