The lid has been lifted on the bravery of the Swans with final-quarter heroes Leo Barry and Jude Bolton both carrying major injuries into Saturday's AFL grand final triumph.

Barry's desperate last-gasp pack mark to quell West Coast's final foray forward was already being hailed as one of the best grabs in grand final history.

But that the defensive general had carried a fractured cheekbone into the match will further enhance the standing of his match-saving deed.

The fullback was already regarded as one of the competition's most courageous players, having ruptured his spleen in a match in Adelaide earlier in his career.

Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs came clean on the depth of Sydney's injury list following Saturday's heart-stopping four-point victory over the Eagles.

Barry had his cheekbone broken in three places during the qualifying final against the Eagles in Perth on September 2, an injury which normally needs up to six weeks to heal.

However he still managed to expertly marshall the Swans defence in the premiership decider before being one of Sydney's finest on the biggest day on the football calendar.

Barry was not alone with Jude Bolton needing painkilling injections to get through the final eight matches of the season after dislocating his AC joint against Essendon in round 19.

Bolton was one of the Sydney's best players in the last term, typifying his team's performance as the Swans clawed to their first premiership since 1933.

The gutsy midfielder had injections before and at halftime of the last seven matches of Sydney's triumphant campaign.

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