Rebuild remains a dirty word at the SCG, with Sydney Swans chief executive Tom Harley insisting his AFL club can continue to buck the trend and avoid bottoming out.
The Swans have been a picture of consistency during an era when boom and bust has been the norm because of equalisation measures.
Sydney have missed finals just three times since reaching the 1996 grand final, regularly making a mockery of any pundits willing to write them off early in the season.
John Longmire's team, seeking to make it 10 consecutive finals appearances, have started the current season sluggishly and sit 16th on the ladder as they prepare to host GWS in a crunch clash on Saturday night.
"We're not in the business of bottoming out," Harley said.
"It is an equalised competition. There are ebbs and flows, and we're trying extremely hard and working very diligently to continue to buck that trend.
"We're very confident with the players we've got on the list to ensure that we continue to do that.
"We've got high standards and we'll continue to explore every avenue to make sure we remain as competitive as we can for as long as possible."
The Swans' shrewd list management and remarkable recruitment, most notably the recruitment of Lance Franklin on a nine-year contact, has been the envy of rivals in recent years.
The club's depth is currently being tested by the absence of injured defensive generals Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith.
"I've played over 120 games of my 140-odd with Reg and Macca," key defender Dane Rampe said.
"Naturally you need to make adjustments to your game. That's part of the evolution of the team.
"I don't use that as any excuse ... it's been the same for other teams.
"And we're very confident with the players who have come in."
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