A lot of factors went into Sydney’s amazing AFL premiership last year.

The Swans readily admit that one of them was luck.

It’s a key element that is deserting the reigning premiers ahead of the finals series.

Sydney suffered another injury blow on Saturday night when defender Rhyce Shaw’s season ended because of a serious knee injury.

While Shaw had only managed six games this season because of injury, the premiership defender was four matches into his comeback and only a fortnight away from the finals.

Star onballer Dan Hannebery also hurt his knee against the Cats, but the Swans are hopeful there is no serious damage.

Sydney’s consistent ability to defy the doubters means no-one would be silly enough to write off their premiership chances.

They will finish in the top four and a year ago they also lost to Geelong soon before powering through September.

But several stars are battling to return to the team and regain match fitness for the finals.

Adam Goodes (knee), Sam Reid (quad), Lewis Jetta (shin) and Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) are all key Swans players who were members of last year’s premiership team.

While Kurt Tippett has starred as Sydney’s key forward in the second half of the season, Sydney would dearly love to have Reid and Goodes alongside him in attack.

Reid’s round-15 comeback from his quad injury lasted just 15 minutes before the problem flared up again.

Goodes, one of Sydney’s most important players, has been out of action since round 13.

Premiership favourites Hawthorn have their own injury problems after Saturday’s win over North Melbourne, with Liam Shiels and Cyril Rioli suffering ankle injuries.

Shiels’ injury appears to be more serious.

Port Adelaide’s Brett Ebert suffered a corked buttock in the big loss to Fremantle, while Chad Wingard was subbed off with soreness.

Fremantle could welcome back as many as three players from injury next week, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands (fractured cheekbone), Clancee Pearce (calf) and Luke McPharlin (calf) all a chance to play.

Nick Suban suffered hamstring tightness in the win over Port.