THE SYDNEY Swans have finished an impressive pre-season with a 42-point win over North Melbourne in Narrandera, but the Kangaroos have been encouraged by standout performances from midfield pair Daniel Wells and Ryan Bastinac.

The Swans were too strong in the centre square, while Ryan O’Keefe (four goals), Jesse White (three) and Adam Goodes (two) starred up forward in the 14.15 (99) to 8.9 (57) win.

Swan Nick Malceski (hamstring tightness) was withdrawn before the game, while North’s Leigh Harding finished the clash with hamstring tightness and Michael Firrito took a knock to the ankle. Both camps described the injuries as minor with all three expected to be available for round one.

Swans assistant coach John Blakey said O’Keefe and Goodes were the side’s standout players as well as former Hawks Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn, who played a solid run-with role on North’s Brent Harvey.

“I thought Josh Kennedy in the midfield was very strong extracting the ball and giving us a good first option,” Blakey said.

“We’ve introduced a number of new player in Kennedy, Lewis Jetta, Ben McGlynn, Mark Seaby and Shane Mumford. So we’ve got a lot of new boys running around out there who are obviously featuring in our round one game.

“We’ve recruited hard over the off-season and those boys have all come in and played roles in this pre-season period.”

For North, Wells played 70 per cent of the game in a solid performance, while young midfielder Bastinac continued to push his claims for a round one berth, according to Firrito.   

North was also pleased with Ben Warren, David Hale, Hamish McIntosh and Drew Petrie, who played a half.
 
Firrito said it was an ideal hit-out ahead of the side’s round one clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

“We got to come up against a really hard, well-drilled side,” he said. “So they certainly showed us how we can go about a few things. But it was a good hit-out and we’re nice and prepared for round one.

“Tonight didn’t go to plan, but we still took some encouraging signs out of it.”

 Sydney Swans 14.15 (99)

defeated

North Melbourne 8.9 (57)