When Sydney lose they generally do so with honour, which makes last year's grand final hammering all the more painful. The last Saturday in September attracts all-comers – from the rusted on diehards to the once-a-year supporters – and they all would have come away thinking little of the Swans.
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For the players, this year is not about redemption. It's not even about revenge. Last year's grand final, as they have stated repeatedly, is gone. History. Beating Hawthorn again on Saturday night will not change that.
Four points do not replace a premiership cup but for the Swans their win over their grand final conquerors earlier this year helped the healing process.
"We wanted to step up and show we could be proud about our performance, I think that was the biggest thing," Kurt Tippett says, in a deviation from the Swans' unofficial party line.
"Not being proud of the way we played in the grand final, the most important thing we could do was come back and – win, lose or draw – be proud of the way we presented ourselves. We were able to do that.
"Win, lose, or draw again if we can go out and be proud of our performance that's a win for us."
As kids, we are taught it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game, but the Swans could not even draw solace from that.
"What hurt was walking off the ground knowing we hadn't been at our very best, that was clear for everyone to see," Tippett says.
"We'd worked very hard for a long part of the year to play well and be proud of our performances and do the fans, supporters, this whole club proud and we weren't able to do that on grand final day. That's what's driving us this year."
There is also plenty for Tippett to prove on a personal level. He came to Sydney amid much hype as a marquee signing but now in his third season the pressure is on for him to deliver and justify the Swans' heavy investment in him.
Wayne Carey suggested the Swans should use him as trade bait. The chances of that happening are next to zero given the club can only bring in players of average pay no matter who they trade this year.
Coach John Longmire was more measured, saying last month that Tippett had "been going OK without setting the world on fire".
Tippett, who has 25 goals from 13 games, rates his own form as "patchy". Pressed on whether he had met his own expectations as a Swan, he said diplomatically that his best football was ahead of him and he was aiming to build more consistency.
His revised roles this year as a forward/ruck should help. As a forward he can be at the mercy of the midfield but in the ruck he should, in theory, be able to influence the game more.
"I think early in the year when I was playing this role I wasn't having the impact on ball and up forward," Tippett says.
"One week I'd play better in the ruck but my forward work was lacking and I might come out and play better as a forward but my ruck work wasn't as consistent. It's the balance of playing both those roles at a high level is what I'm trying to achieve."
The importance of his role has grown in the past 48 hours after Mike Pyke's injury, which is likely to increase his time in the ruck. Tippett says he is still developing his ruck style but it's fair to say he is not your old fashioned big man who sits a kick behind the play but one who pushes forward and menaces defences.
Last week was encouraging for Tippett, who kicked three goals and had 31 hit outs in close to his best game of the season.
"Another step this week would be good against a really good opposition," Tippett says.
Should Tippett ever be short of inspiration, he needs to look no further than his little sister, Gretel, an attacker with the Queensland Firebirds in the trans Tasman netball competition.
Like Tippett, Gretel had to move cities to ply her trade though in her case it was to chase more opportunities. Formerly with the NSW Swifts, she lived the ultimate fantasy for any athlete by scoring the winning goal in this year's grand final.
"I was a very proud older brother. I was fortunate to be up at the grand final," Tippett says.
"They'd been there the last two years and to get there this year I thought that was fantastic for her.
"To see her and her teammates achieve the ultimate is awesome. I can't help but think I'd like to achieve the ultimate in what I'm doing – to get back at the grand final and to give it another crack."
