Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh have revealed the secrets of the locker room this morning as the Sydney Swans officially launched season 2011.
The co-captains took a large contingent of media on a tour of the Club’s inner sanctum, visitng the locker rooms, warm-up area and then the coach’s room, where senior coach John Longmire detailed the pre-match routine he will use this year.
As he stood in the locker room, Goodes said it was every player’s aim to play 100 matches in the red and white and get their names etched permanently on their locker.
"As you can see with the names on the lockers, that's a huge honour," Goodes said.
"The first thing the guys try to tick off is 100 games, once they do that their name is on the locker. If you captain the Club, or win a premiership, a best and fairest, or a Coleman Medal you also get up there."
McVeigh said it was an area where players carried out their varying routines, with Lewis Jetta often seen lying down sleeping in front of his locker before a match, while Rhyce Shaw was the most vocal.
McVeigh said there was a fantastic feeling around the Club and the players couldn’t wait for the season to start, with round one against Melbourne at the MCG just 12 days away, on March 27.
2010 Club Champion Kieren Jack was interviewed by Jude Bolton and said there was a burning desire among the players to do better than last year, when they lost a close semi-final to the Western Bulldogs.
"In the dressing rooms after the Western Bulldogs game, there was a real burning feeling," Jack said.
"We gave up a good lead and missed out on a preliminary final by not much, so we've come back more focused than ever."
Longmire explained how the pre-match coach’s address had changed significantly since he was a player, and there was very little “rev-up".
“We’ve done all our work during the week, so on game day it’s just about re-inforcing a few things so the players know the structures, and then it’s up to them,’’ Longmire said.
Longmire jokingly predicted that when match committee meets next week it is likely to take two hours to pick the first 21 players, and another three hours to pick the substitute player who will make up the 22.
Longmire said the Club had told the AFL it was not in favour of the new rule, which sees teams having three interchange players and one substitute.
“But we know it won’t change so we just have to work with it.’’
Goodes said the players were used to dealing with different rules. “The Players Association did put in a submission saying we were against it but now it’s in, we work with it. It makes no difference to us, we will do what we always do and get out there and work together try to win the football,’’ Goodes said.
McVeigh and Goodes then led the media up the race and onto the SCG to the sounds of the famous Sydney chant echoing around the ground.
Jude Bolton outlined the highlights of season 2011, including the first home game, which is against Essendon at ANZ Stadium on Sunday April 3. “It will be two first -time senior coaches in John Longmire and Essendon’s James Hird going head-to-head so that will be well worth seeing,’’ Bolton said.
Other highlights include the round 4 game against Geelong at the SCG on Saturday April 16 at 7.10pm, and Round 6 on April 29, when the Swans play Carlton at the SCG in the first Friday night match since 2005.
The annual blockbuster against Collingwood at ANZ Stadium is on Saturday June 25 at ANZ Stadium.
Buy tickets here for the Round 2 game against Essendon at ANZ Stadium on April 3, or Round 4 against Geelong at the SCG on April 16.
Swans reveal locker room secrets
The 2011 season has been officially launched with the co-captains leading a tour of the inner sanctum…