HE’S done it again. In last year’s main intra-club match Trent Dennis-Lane kicked five goals, but he surpassed that effort today in the Swans first competitive hitout for 2011.
Dennis-Lane kicked seven goals during a 60 minute game, and he did it in a variety of ways. He pounced on a loose ball and snapped from 30m out, he marked on the lead and kicked truly from 45m, and he dribbled another along the ground.
Coach John Longmire said it was a promising performance but TDL had to be ready for even tougher opposition in the coming months.
Today he played on a couple of rookie players, before finishing the game matched up on Nick Malceski.
Trent is the only player on the Swans list not to have missed a session during the per-season, which began early last November.
“That was one of my goals for this pre-season so I’m really pleased to have ticked that off,’’ Trent said.
“It was a great experience playing in the finals last year. I had one good game but I wasn’t so pleased with the game against the Bulldogs so I’ve analysed all of that to see what I did well and what I did wrong, and tried to learn from it.
“Another goal was to get stronger, and I’ve done a number of PB’s in the gym, and put on about three or four kilograms - of muscle hopefully!’’
The first goal of the match was kicked by Jed Lamb, the club’s top draft pick last year. Lamb showed real composure to evade a couple of tackles, twist around and snap a goal.
The second goal of the match was kicked by Luke Parker, the Swans second pick in the 2010 draft. Longmire was pleased to see the youngsters showing such good signs.
Other players to stand out today included Adam Goodes, Jarrad McVeigh, who ran hard through the middle of the ground, and Gary Rohan, who used his pace off the half back line.
Mark Seaby went head to head with Mike Pyke and then Daniel Currie in the ruck, as the big men vie for positions this season.
About 30 Swans players took part, with a number of scholarship and local
Sydney players making up the numbers as top-up players.
Longmire said Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery, who didn’t take part today, were likely to line up in the first NAB Cup game against GWS Giants and Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown Olympic Park next Saturday February 19.