KURT Tippett wants to be the number one ruckman at the Sydney Swans; but getting the big man to admit it wasn't easy.
The retirement of 110-game premiership player Mike Pyke – who shared the role with Tippett in 2015 with plenty of success – means the Swans have a large gap to fill.
In an exclusive interview with the powerful Queenslander at the club's pre-season camp in Coffs Harbour, Tippett was hesitant when asked where he wants to line up when the Swans take on Collingwood at ANZ Stadium in round one.
"That’s something we'll talk through with 'Horse' (John Longmire), we've bought Callum Sinclair in and he's a great fella and a real competitor so he's going to be great for the football club," Tippett said.
"He moves really well and is really on top of the game plan and these sorts of things, so I can't wait to work alongside him.
"We'll see what it looks like come the pre-season games and round one, and see where it all fits.
"I'm grateful that my body feels great and I feel confident in playing wherever the coach needs me to play.
"Right now I feel like I'm in the shape to be able to do whatever the team needs."
It's further proof of coach John Longmire's ability to get his players to buy into the club's culture that Tippett's initial answer was about what is best for the side.
When quizzed further about whether he wants to be the Swans' first choice ruckman when they kick off the year against the Magpies, Tippett laughed, caught between the need to stick to his club's mantra and his want to talk about his personal goals for 2016 and beyond.
"If I had my choice … I don't know … I'm easy either way … probably in the middle, (I'd like to) start in the middle," he said.
Tippett spent around 50 per cent of his game time in the ruck last season but still finished second in the Swans' goalkicking behind Lance Franklin with 44 majors, his biggest haul since he booted 46 for Adelaide back in 2010.
He played 22 of the club's 24 games – also his best tally since 2006 – and played a major role in helping the Swans to a top four finish.
Despite his impressive statistics, Tippett was widely criticized at times for his impact in games, but he said he paid no attention to any of the negative backlash from media or the fans.
"No, I tend not too," Tippett said.
"I'm the first to admit that I set pretty high standards for myself, I always want to be playing better and play my role to the best of my ability for the team.
"You're always trying to do that and I think the second of my year was a lot better than the first half.
"It was a little bit inconsistent for my liking but I'm looking to build on what I did in the second half of last year at the start of this season."
His partnership with Franklin has seen the pair produce 204 goals in the past two seasons, a quality output considering both men have missed large chunks of pre-season training in that time.
In a scary thought for opposition teams, Tippett said the fact that both he and Franklin have been working together since early December, will only strengthen their on-field relationship.
"In previous years we haven't always been on the track at the same time and this year it feels like we have been, and we've been able to get that continuity," he said.
"That's important because as a forward line we're able to gel.
"With Bud (Lance Franklin), Dean Towers, Brandon Jack, Isaac (Heeney), Cal (Callum Mills), myself and Sam Reid, we're getting a lot of time together and getting a lot of reps together which is important for our chemistry."
