SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos was happy with the efforts of his young side in Launceston, despite their two-point loss to Hawthorn on Sunday.

Subdued after confirming midfielder Nick Malceski season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, Roos brightened when asked his thoughts on his inexperienced brigade.

“It was super … to get in the game and nearly get up and win. It was fantastic,” Roos said.

“There were some really good efforts from the young kids. It’s great for us. We’ve got to play them at this time of the year because they don’t get a chance to play against AFL talent in the VFL in the Canberra footy league.”

“It’s great to see Peter Faulks play at full-back; Heath Grundy – who we think is going to be a good player – plays on Lance Franklin, Matty O’Dwyer on a wing, Nick Smith … it was really good to see them play against senior players and also for them to understand the difference in tempo.

“Occasionally our guys got caught a bit with the ball and we turned it over a little bit and things like that, but I just thought generally it was pretty pleasing.”

Roos left a host of experienced talent in Sydney, but said Brett Kirk, Leo Barry, Luke Ablett, Adam Goodes, Luke Brennan, Michael O’Loughlin, Darren Jolly and possibly Barry Hall would all be in contention for next week’s NAB Challenge match against Port Adelaide at ANZ Stadium.

Former Cat Henry Playfair continues to be listed as ‘indefinite’ with a hamstring injury, but Roos remained confident of Playfair’s availability for the home-and-away season.

“We had Luke Ablett with a similar problem last year so it’s hard to put an absolute timeframe on it,” Roos said.

“Lukey last year started training, stopped, and eventually got on top of it. It’s just a bit of hamstring soreness, tendonitis-type thing. It feels good for a while and then you go back a little bit, but you’re always slowly moving forward.”

Roos was asked about the AFL’s announced intention to put a second club in Sydney, but was reluctant to offer comment until further details were provided.

“By 2012 I think I’ll be sitting in Maui with a couple of Pina Coladas,” he replied with a smile.

“I haven’t really spoken to anyone at the AFL and I haven’t spoken to anyone at the club. Really it’s not a club issue for us, it’s more of an AFL issue, so until we know a bit more there’s probably not much to say, really.”