Sydney star Adam Goodes was convinced before the AFL season started that the Swans were premiership-capable.

At the end of the season, he’s been proven right.

Goodes told the Swans’ post-grand final function at Melbourne Park on Saturday night exactly what he told supporters at their 2012 season launch – that he genuinely believed Sydney had the talent to win the flag.

And the Swans’ 10-point against-the-odds win over Hawthorn at the MCG was testament to players being determined to listen, learn and develop all season towards their eventual prize.

“I certainly believed in our group and that last year we had a lot of talent, and we wanted to get better,” Goodes said.

“It’s just a credit to the whole list putting in this year, wanting to improve, listening to the coaches and this is the result.”

Goodes played through a torn knee ligament to add a second premiership to his two Brownlow Medals.

His efforts and those of his premiership teammates were cheered by a crowd of several hundred at their club grand final function.

Players proudly wore their jerseys over white shirts and ties as they were introduced on stage.

Swans chairman Richard Colless said his emotions were far different to those when the club born out of the former South Melbourne last won a flag in 2005.

At the time, it was the club’s first premiership in 72 years.

“That was a relief. This was different. The relief was gone – this was about pride, and we can come away truly believing we are one of the great clubs of this competition,” Colless said.