Sydney Swans fans might get a first-look at the lightning pace of draftee Lewis Jetta, the big man power of Shane Mumford and Adam Goodes roaming the forward line sooner than they think.
For the first time in several years, coach Paul Roos is confident he can field a super-strong line-up in the pre-season competition when the Swans play Carlton on February 20 at Blacktown in Sydney.
Right now there’s fierce competition on the training track as the players complete their last few sessions before the Christmas break.
In a welcome change for the coaches, just about every player on the list is fit and eyeing a spot in the team for the pre-season competition.
And the players are making the most of the rivalry. "The best thing is that pretty much everyone is training and will be ready to go for the NAB Cup. We’ll actually have to fight for spots which we’ve never done," midfielder Jarrad McVeigh said.
And coach Paul Roos can’t wait either. In previous years he’s struggled to find enough fit players to make up the numbers in February.
"The guys are really excited," Roos said. "In the past we haven’t had the chance to put a really good side on the field because we have played finals.
"This year’s it’s really critical. We need to get a good side on the field in round one in that competition to give ourselves a chance to gel as a group in the four week period leading into the (home and away) season," Roos said.
"We will pick a pretty good team, which we haven’t been able to do much in the past. We’d probably have 25 players who could play next week if we had to. Now I could not possibly have said that over the last seven years."