Likely midfield opponents in the match, Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton, this week talked of the changeroom rivalry that’s been revving up behind the scenes.
Assistant Coach John Blakey said the excitement among the players, who for three months have focused solely on intensive running, drills and skill work, was palpable.
“Obviously with the boys, you get to this point of the year and it’s been really hard, with a high running load and a large ball-work load. The guys are just about sick of training now and really ready to get into playing games,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of little scratch games amongst ourselves but this is the first real hit-out that we’ve had, so it obviously the players are ready. They want to play. It’s been a long pre-season and this is what the pre-season is all about, to take it into the game, so we’re looking forward to Friday.”
Friday will also provide an opportunity for the coaching staff to see how the newest Swans are fitting in to the new team, and to get a clearer idea of the roles the younger recruits might potentially play in season 2010.
The Swans’ coaching staff have spoken often in past weeks of the unusual but pleasing fact of the team’s pre-season fitness. When they go in to battle against Carlton at Blacktown on Saturday 20 February, Blakey says they will be fielding their best side.
“There is a different feeling going into the pre-season competition this year. In the past we’ve had quite a few of our senior players who weren’t available to play during the pre-season competition, but this year the majority of our senior players are ready to play and will play early on… Everyone that’s available will be out there playing,” he said.
“Obviously with the retirements over the last 12 months to two years, we’ve had a good change in the list and it’s exciting to look at Benny McGlynn or Josh Kennedy, Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby along with the kids like Lewis Jetta, Byron Sumner - these types of guys who’ve got real pace and a bit of class about them.
“We’re looking forward to the injection of the new faces into the side and obviously with the mix of the guys that are still here, it should make for an exciting team.”
