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This article isn't strictly about the Swans but it's not only in the media it's about players' interactions with the media: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/footballers-say-they-don-t-listen-to-the-media-but-i-can-tell-you-that-s-not-true-20250324-p5lm6j.html?utm_content=top_stories&list_name=10023_age_realfooty&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=afl-real-footy&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2025-03-29&mbnr=MjUxMzcxNQ&instance=2025-03-29-14-02-AEDT&jobid=31329682.  There is a Swans' reference to the possible impact of the 2022 GF loss on our performance in last year's GF loss.

The article isn't as insightful as I had hoped.  Primarily it says:

• players are aware of what's happening in the media
• the narratives in the media have an impact
• the influence of the media can be used to positive ends as well as having a negative influence but in either case should not be relied upon because it is not as real as reality (that's my parsing of the author - apologies if that's a bit off the money).

I did think this quote about the way media influence can put players on the defensive was critical:

Sports psychology calls it a “threat mindset” — your body shifts into fight-or-flight mode. In flight mode, players might step away from the contest, hesitate or avoid involvement so they don’t make a mistake. Ultimately, their impact on the game suffers.