With high-profile trio Lance Franklin, Adam Goodes and Kurt Tippett in tow, it's no surprise the goalkickers generate the lion's share of publicity.

 

But the grunt work undertaken by the Swans' blue-collar band of defenders is just as critical to the club's hopes in 2014.

 

Whether they're discards from other clubs like Ted Richards and Rhyce Shaw, or rough diamonds from the rookie draft like Nick Smith and Heath Grundy, the backline is a motley crew of misfits that has combined superbly.

 

The Swans and Port Adelaide are the only teams yet to concede 100 points in a game this year, while the Sydney-based club is second only to Fremantle for fewest points conceded.

 

The Dockers are giving up 70.5 points per game, just 19 total points better than the Swans (72.1 points per game) through 12 matches.

 

And it isn't a new phenomenon. The Swans have finished either first or second defensively in the competition in six of the past 10 seasons.

 

The club has adapted as the game has changed, but defensive intensity remains the fundamental upon which its approach to football is based.

 

"It's evolved quite significantly over the years," Swans defensive coach John Blakey told AFL.com.au.

 

"Not just our defensive principles, but the way we attack as well. We're continually changing little things as the game changes itself.

 

"But it all comes back to accountability, win your one-on-ones, just basic principles. We're pretty strong on teaching that to the kids when they come in.

 

"That's why you see, when they step into the senior side, they're already well drilled in the way we want to play."

 

Richards and Grundy hold down the key defensive posts, while Smith is virtually never beaten, despite matching up with the game's best small forwards every week.

 

Nick Malceski, Rhyce Shaw and Dane Rampe provide the run out of defence, regularly getting the Swans moving forward.

 

Malceski in particular is in the midst of a brilliant season that will likely end with a place in the All Australian side.

 

Overcoming three serious knee injuries, and the flag bearer of the LARS procedure, Malceski has come close before, named in the 40-man All Australian squad in 2010 and again last year.

 

His penetrating left boot yields an average of 568.8m per game, which is behind only Adelaide's Brodie Smith (606.2m), and he is ranked No.1 in the competition for total kicks. 

 

Shaw has bounced back remarkably well from his own LARS procedure late last year, while Rampe has slotted seamlessly into the third tall role previously held by Alex Johnson.

 

Johnson will shortly be undergoing knee surgery for the third time as he aims for a return in 2015.

 

The last member of the defensive unit is Jeremy Laidler, who managed just 26 games in five seasons with Geelong and Carlton, but has appeared in 11 of a possible 12 matches in his first year as a Swan.

 

How is it that fresh faces can slot into the backline with such minimum fuss?

 

"You have to teach them the way that we play as a team," Blakey said.

 

"Guys like Nick Smith and Ted Richards, who are in our leadership group, are able to steer them around a fair bit.

 

"You get instant training from those guys, as well as individual feedback from the coaches.

 

"(Laidler's) been able to slip in quite easily and has been really handy for us."

 

While he is regularly quizzed about the goalkicking power at his disposal, head coach John Longmire often reserves praise for his defenders, believing their ability to adapt and defend as a unit is critical to their set-up.

 

Smith, who has also been mentioned in All Australian circles, believes they have an innate understanding as a group.

 

"We've played a lot of footy together now and we know each other's games inside out," Smith said.

 

"Because we have played so much together, we know how to speak to each other and how to get each other going if someone's not firing."

 

Blakey knows his craft, having enjoyed an outstanding 359-game playing career as a defender with Fitzroy and North Melbourne.

 

He believes balance is critical to a successful defensive core.

 

"You have to have a mix of different types down there," he said.

 

"Certainly 'Mal', 'Shawry' and 'Ramps' really give us some drive and attack out of our back six.

 

"Teddy and Reg (Grundy) look after the big boys and have been our cornerstones for a number of years.

 

"They've all got different roles and complement each other really well.

 

"You have to have blokes that shut down and lock guys out and you also need offensive drivers back there as well.

 

"I think we've got a good mix of that."

 

All teams need damaging forwards to finish off the good work, but the Swans' no-frills defenders will have just as much say in their fortunes in 2014.

 

"Being the size he is, he's very mobile for a big man. He's got the ability to run very well and his ability to play on the running types has been really good. He's developed very well."

 

"He's been able to slip in quite easily. He played a lot of defensive football at Carlton before he was injured and has been really handy for us. He's a good size, he's can play on talls, but he can also play on those mediums as well."

 

"He's always been a very good player, a very classy player, and he's been able to put some really good training blocks together since his last knee injury."

 

"He's got exceptional speed and he's really strong as well. Those are his real assets. So he's very difficult to play on as a forward."

 

"Teddy came off an All Australian year a couple of years back and is certainly still a very, very good defender and gets the best forwards every week."

 

"He's back to his best. He's an extremely hard runner, very disciplined at what he does, and he also gives great direction to the other guys out there.

 

"His name is the first magnet we throw on the board every week because you know what you're going to get. Cyril (Rioli), (Hayden) Ballantyne, these type of guys that can really hurt you, he gets them every week and does a fantastic job."

 

Twitter: @AFL_JD