The lacklustre start of Lance Franklin and the no-shows of Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes (which will continue this week) have been the major focus for those looking in from the outside. But, in a team which believes it won the 2012 premiership overwhelmingly because of its efforts in defence, a far more telling narrative than Buddy’s 1.1 against GWS was that the defence was blown open by the Giants.

But, while football can often be moulded into a complex melodrama, solace can be drawn from the reality that just about any on-field problem can be overcome by something as succinct as winning more contested possession.

“We’re not putting the loss to GWS just down to them scoring a few goals in the last five minutes,” said fullback Ted Richards, a 2012 premiership winner and All-Australian who was re-signed by Sydney this week until the end of 2015.

“We’ve spoken about how, even in the first quarter, there were areas we were off - and had been off in the NAB Challenge, which is of most concern - and that is basic competitiveness, like contested football. It’s just the ability to win the 50-50 contests. GWS got us in that area. It’s a fundamental of football. It’s a simple measurement and it says a lot about a player’s and a team’s attitude.”

Richards said his fellow defenders had been “annoyed” that the Giants piled on points because they wanted to put into practice the script that the coach often reads from, in which he talks about wanting to be the best defensive team in the competition.

Another chapter will be written this week against a Magpies side equally scorned after suffering a humiliating defeat and ringing in the changes, including the likely introduction of ex-Swan Jesse White.  Jostling for positions in the Swans' back six continues after being so seriously decimated by injuries last year it required the elevation of rookie-listed Dane Rampe. Lewis Roberts-Thomson, sidelined for all but the first four games last year, faces a fitness test on a strained groin on Thursday.

The plot thickens with Jeremy Laidler coming in and, Richards believes, seeming to finally fill the void left by Marty Mattner in swinging between lock-down defender and rebounder. The team’s best rebounder, Rhyce Shaw, another sidelined for much of 2013, has re-entered from stage right and looks primed, as does his co-star Nick Malceski. Heath Grundy and Nick Smith may sometimes look like extras on the set, but their contributions are steady and valuable.

And, if needed, as Richards likes to remind him, Jarrad McVeigh can always play a cameo defensive role after he dropped back and stole the show last year.Then, of course, there is Richards, who wants to re-establish his director's credentials after having four goals kicked on him by Jeremy Cameron.

“There is a lot going on down back at the moment,” he says. “But we know we faced a lot of obstacles last year and just chipped away week by week. We’ve taken the same attitude this year. Don’t take anything for granted. Just get on with it.”

And hope it ends a fairytale.