Premiership veteran Luke Parker believes the Sydney side that will face Brisbane in Saturday's grand final at the MCG is more mature under pressure than the team that was flogged by Geelong in the title decider two years ago.
The Swans were run over to lose by 81 points in the 2022 grand final but Parker - the only remaining player from Sydney's 2012 premiership side - claims that this team can stand up in big moments.
"The mental side of things, we're really confident in who we are, in the style we're playing under pressure in games," Parker, 31, said amid the crushing euphoria of a packed Swans change room after Friday night's 36-point preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide.
"I think we've shown ourselves to have improved in that area.
"Probably a few years ago, we're playing off confidence and just on a roll, but I think now we've really matured as a team, understanding standing up in big moments, and what's needed at different times of the game.
"We're just embracing playing to a system, playing for each other and letting each other shine."
The Swans have already overcome two hoodoos in this finals campaign, beating crosstown rivals GWS in a final for the first time and then ending an eight-match losing streak against Port dating back to 2016.
"On the biggest stage we're looking forward to the challenge, another opportunity for this team," said Parker, who knows a bit about football's biggest stage.
This will be his fifth grand final, but the Swans have lost three since their 2012 triumph.
No one will enjoy grand final week more than Parker. For much of the season it appeared the former club captain and best and fairest may not be in the team.
A broken arm in a preseason practice match that required surgery left him a late starter for this season, then a six-week suspension in the VFL team as he built match time saw him a spectator as the Swans sailed merrily along on top of the ladder.
Parker fought his way back into the team in round 18 and has held his place despite three successive losses late in the season, making Taylor Adams the hard luck story.
Adams, the hard-nosed midfielder who crossed from Collingwood at the end of last season after missing last year's premiership thanks to an untimely injury, has now missed both Swans finals and is unlikely to return.
It is unclear whether Saturday's grand final will be the last for the highly decorated Parker in Swans colours.
Alastair Clarkson let it be known during the season that Parker is a player the North Melbourne coach would like at his struggling club to help lead his young group. Parker did little to shut the speculation.
"I'm contracted to Sydney, I'm looking forward to this finals series," Parker said at the time.
"You can never rule out what the future looks like. At the end of the year, I'll sit down (and) talk to the coaches and the footy club about what the future looks like.
"But at the moment, I'm contracted and just enjoying this finals series and focusing on that."
