Veteran ruckman Everitt was the major off-season acquisition for a club that began this year with hopes of reaching a third consecutive AFL grand final.

But plenty of pundits weren’t convinced the three-time All-Australian’s presence would be enough to keep the Swans among football’s elite.

The 33-year-old was plagued by an ankle injury last year, restricting him to 14 games in his final season with Hawthorn, while many believed the Swans would struggle to maintain their lofty standards in 2007.

After years playing for mostly mediocre St Kilda and Hawthorn teams, there were also question marks over whether Everitt could get up to speed with Sydney’s settled, veteran list.

Everitt’s class is undeniable, however, and he and fellow ruckman Darren Jolly are starting to form the type of tandem that should prove a major threat come finals time.

Both were among Sydney’s best in Sunday’s comprehensive 43-point triumph over the Western Bulldogs that put the Swans back in the top eight heading into Saturday’s clash with Essendon at the SCG.

“Everitt and Jolly is a great combination and I think the last few weeks have really shown that they’re going to be super for us,” co-captain Brett Kirk said yesterday.

Despite Sydney’s recent success, critics still seem to be waiting anxiously for the wheels to fall off and tend to quickly write them off whenever they are in even a minor slump.

Those with short memories were still ready to condemn Sydney’s season when it fell to a 3-4 record a fortnight ago.

But it is a familiar script for the club, which has recovered to hold a 5-4 record — identical to 2005.