IN A CHANGE from recent years, the Sydney Swans could blood several new or inexperienced players in their season opener this weekend.

The Swans meet St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Saturday night and while many fans might expect the same names they have come to know from Paul Roos’ side over the past few years, the impressive form of several youngsters means the Sydney line-up is likely to feature a new wave of exciting newcomers.

Swans assistant John Longmire told The Daily Telegraph that this week’s Swans team could feature as many as five different faces as the one that lost to Collingwood in last year’s elimination final.

Ed Barlow, Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack and Jarred Moore have all enjoyed strong pre-seasons, while impressive draftee Craig Bird is also in contention to make his AFL debut after showing his likeness to the man whose number 14 he has inherited – former club champion and Brownlow Medallist Paul Kelly.

The Swans lost their NAB Cup opener to Hawthorn in Tasmania but several young players, who are usually shielded from AFL football and play in the AFL Canberra competition, stepped up to the plate and showed their development was well and truly on track.

“We've had a core group of players there for a long time that has been fantastic and we think can still be of great service to the team this year," Longmire told the newspaper.

"But the reality is that there are some younger players coming through and have spent a bit of time getting themselves right and are hungry and absolutely keen to go.

"From the club's point of view, that's a great sign.

"The important thing is that these younger guys aren't waiting for injuries to get a go.

"They are knocking the door down themselves, which is terrific."

Former Adelaide defender Martin Mattner will also make his debut for his new club against the Saints, and his inclusion becomes doubly important given the knee injury suffered by dashing defender Nick Malceski.

Criticised in some quarters at the end of 2007 as being too old and in need of a freshening of its list, the development of Sydney’s list is good news for Roos and the Swans as they prepare to again challenge for a top-eight berth and a shot at premiership glory.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.