Barry, whose spectacular match-saving mark in the dying seconds was the indelible memory of last year's four point grand final win over West Coast when the Swans' kept the Eagles to just seven goals, has no doubt the Swans' 2006 defence is even better than last year's backline.
And this is reflected in the statistics which showed the Swans conceded just 1630 points in the home and away season this year - the least in the competition - after last year conceding 1696 points in the home and away season, which was only the second-best defensive record behind Adelaide.
Barry said the Swans' backline has rebounded strongly after a slow start.
"We have been really solid in the second half of the year," he said here on Thursday.
"We conceded a lot of goals early in the season as a defensive group but we can’t be faulted for our performance in the second half of the year."
"Our defensive unit is better but whether we are better as a team is a difficult one to answer and hopefully we will answer that in a couple of weeks."
Barry, who missed out on the All-Australian full-back spot this year to West Coast's Darren Glass, said there were several reasons the Swans' defence had improved even more in 2006.
"We have had the improvement of Craig Bolton, who made All-Australian this year for the first time and the inclusion of Nick Malceski as well because he is a really good ball carrier who has improved our group.,"
"And Lewis Roberts-Thomson has definitely improved. He can fill a key position now whether it is full-back or centre-half-back.
Another key member of the Swans' defence both last year and this year, Irishman Tadhg Kennelly agrees with Barry, particularly concerning the growing influence of Roberts-Thomson whose career has blossomed since he starred in last year's grand final win.
"With LRT playing so well he has really steadied us in that centre-half-back position," Kennelly said on Thursday.
"This season he has been brilliant for us and Nick Malceski coming back into the team has made a difference because he is a really good ball user and he has helped me because with Nick running out of the backline as well, it's hard to stop the two of us."
Kennelly said Roberts-Thomson, who came from a rugby background, is a far better player than given credit for.
"Outside the Swans he probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves," Kennelly said.
"He really does work his butt off and he has done such a good job stabilising the backline this year and he has probably helped Craig Bolton became an All-Australian."
So, considering the Swans are going in at full-strength and with an unchanged team, the job of kicking a winning score is certainly ahead of Fremantle in Friday night's first preliminary final at Telstra Stadium, particularly when you consider the last time the Dockers played Sydney back in round 13 they could only manage nine goals in going down by 33 points at the SCG.
