INJURY-plagued forward Sam Reid has started his year in promising fashion with two goals in the Swans' intraclub scratch match in Sydney's inner west.
The players were forced to battle temperatures in excess of 40 degrees, with Reid, who failed to play a senior game in 2016 due to persistent hamstring, calf and Achilles problems, very impressive for the red team opposed to Michael Talia, especially in the first half.
The 25-year-old covered plenty of territory up the ground but did his best work inside 50, and could have had five majors before the main break if he'd kicked straight.
Coach John Longmire was rapt to see his versatile forward get through unscathed after his troubled started with a tight hamstring in the corresponding fixture last season.
"He moved really well and had a few shots on goal, and particularly in the first half he looked really dangerous," Longmire said.
"It was good that he got through the game, that was obviously really important for him after not playing a lot of footy (last year).
"He's been doing all the training so now it's just about putting him in a game situation, and the more games that he plays, the better he'll feel.
"We'll use the time over the next three weeks to build up that game time for him."
Dan Hannebery booted two goals for the red team and found plenty of the footy before sitting out most of the second half, with youngsters Harrison Marsh and Jordan Foote, Jake Lloyd, and Irishman Colin O'Riordan all in good touch.
Callum Sinclair, Lance Franklin and Jeremy Laidler enjoy the shade. Picture: AFL Photos
For the white team, former co-captain Kieren Jack kicked two goals and was creative inside 50 playing mainly as a forward, while Isaac Heeney and Zak Jones were brilliant through the midfield, and big man Darcy Cameron had a good battle with Kurt Tippett in the ruck.
The red team eventually took the honours 13.11 (89) to 9.7 (61).
Captain Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin, Jarrad McVeigh, Dane Rampe and Luke Parker were among the Swans' big names to miss the match as they ease themselves into the new season.
The Swans begin the JLT Community Series with a clash against North Melbourne in Coffs Harbour next Sunday, and while Kennedy, Rampe and McVeigh are a chance to play their first match of the year, Franklin (shoulder) and Parker (knee), along with fellow injured teammates Jeremy Laidler (elbow), Tom Papley (knee) and Sam Naismith (shoulder), are unlikely to feature until later in the series.
Kurt Tippett feels the heat as the temperature tops 40 in Sydney. Picture: AFL Photos
