In a savage blow to the Swans' finals aspirations, Woods snapped his Achilles tendon during the final training session before the opening round.

Swans coach Luke Brookes didn't try to sugar-coat the loss.

"Danyl is our best player," Brookes said.

"He has been at the club since 2017 and won successive best and fairests.

"Then in 2019 he missed six weeks and in his first match back kicked five against Tallangatta and we won by a point.

"I couldn't believe it when he snapped his Achilles tendon with two minutes to go on the Thursday night of round one.

"He kicked seven in a practice match against Rennie and looked set for another big season.

"So it's disheartening but he had the surgery on Monday and is on the road to recovery which is the main thing."

The Swans loom as one of the biggest unknowns of the season after losing more than half-a-dozen players since the end of 2019.

In a promising sign, they pushed premiership contender Barnawartha for three-quarters in the opening round.

Last week, the Swans scored a comfortable 57-point victory over Dederang-Mt Beauty.

Brookes was quick to dismiss the popular theory that the premiership race looked to be between 'the big three' Tallangatta, Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Barnawartha.

"I would love to get a big scalp on the weekend and make an early statement," he said.

"Yes, everybody is talking about the big three but I'm not so sure it is that clear cut and feel we are firmly in the mix.

"Talk is cheap but we matched Barnawartha for more than three-quarters and only ran out of legs late.

"I think Ethan Boxall will be huge for us and Mark Doolan will also play on the weekend.

"We lost eight players over the off-season and will only get better as the season progresses."

IN OTHER NEWS

Wodonga recruit Kyle Magee has proven to be an early surprise packet for the Swans.

Despite playing his first year of senior football, Magee has been in the Swans' top-two players in the first two rounds.

The 21-year-old has been shouldering the majority of the ruck duties.

Recruits Brad and Bodie Hibberson alongside youngster Mitch Hemming have slotted into a new-look Swans midfield.

The trio have help cover the loss of Marcus Roberts and Jacob Romeril.

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