The Sydney Swans have named a near full-strength side to take on Collingwood at Narrandera on Friday night.
Captain Barry Hall will make his first appearance for the year, while the team welcomes back Craig Bolton, Nick Davis, Ben Mathews, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Malceski and Ted Richards after their weekend’s rest.
The younger brigade of Ed Barlow, Ryan Brabazon, Peter Faulks, Matthew Laidlaw, Sam Rowe, Nick Smith and Kristin Thornton make way for their more experienced teammates.
Leo Barry (calf) and Tadhg Kennelly (shoulder) will be rested this weekend after sustaining minor injuries in last weekend’s win over Richmond.
Coach Paul Roos suggests the team line-up is getting close to that will run out onto Telstra Stadium in the season opener against West Coast.
“The guys who had already played but didn't play last week will all be back this week, McVeigh, Malceski, Craig Bolton, Mathews, Richards, Nick Davis,” Roos said at a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are pretty much looking like the team we will put on for round one, Kennelly and Leo Barry won't play this week and they are probably the only couple who would put their hand up for round one, so it's getting pretty close to what we are looking at for the first game.”
Team:
Paul Bevan, Craig Bolton, Jude Bolton, Amon Buchanan, Nick Davis, Sean Dempster, Peter Everitt, Nic Fosdike, Adam Goodes, Barry Hall, Kieren Jack, Darren Jolly, Nick Malceski, Ben Mathews, Jarrad McVeigh, Jarred Moore, Ryan O’Keefe, Michael O’Loughlin, Simon Phillips, Ted Richards, Sam Rowe, Tim Schmidt, Jonathan Simpkin, Luke Vogels, Jesse White.
