'Huge shoes': Swans great's high praise for coach

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.

The 2012 AFL premiership-winning coach stepped down in 2024, less than two months after the club's hefty defeat to the Brisbane Lions in the season decider.

Longmire's fourth grand final loss was his 333rd match as coach, and he wrapped up with a 208-3-122 win-loss record.

"Our greatest-ever coaches in the history of the South Melbourne, Sydney Swans - John's a hard man to follow," O'Loughlin told AAP.

"To have huge, huge, huge shoes to fill, I think he's made it his own.

"John's always a lending ear if he ever needed it, but Coxy's doing a great job, and we keep on marching forward.

"Love the position we're in, but it's all been the preparation and the hard work before that."

Settling for a 10th-placed finish after a poor start last season, Sydney's success comes after several additions to Cox's coaching box.

Simon Goodwin, Melbourne's 2021 premiership coach, was welcomed as the club's director of coaching and performance, while Jeremy Laidler returned as an assistant.

Longmire remains at the Swans in an executive role, while Fremantle great Matthew Pavlich has replaced Tom Harley as chief executive.

Still, O'Loughlin, speaking at a TAB press conference in Sydney, admits his surprise at how quickly Cox has managed to turn around their fortunes.

"It was always going to take a little bit of time, but I don't think anyone saw how quickly it was going to turn," Swans board member O'Loughlin said.

"I love what Dean has been able to bring, and all the players are having really great years.

"Some of them are having career-best years this year.

"You know what you're going to get when they show up. They're going to be a really hard, competitive team to beat on their day."

Fit-again St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is set to cause chaos for Sydney's midfield, one of six changes for the visitors.

Sydney will at least boast Brodie Grundy after the in-form ruck was rested last week against the Tigers.

Swans skipper Callum Mills (calf), forward Malcolm Rosas Jnr (ankle) and defender Matt Roberts (groin) also return.