Perris, who graduated to the rookied list via the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, was one of the most impressive performers throughout the pre-season, placing in the top-three in the club’s three-kilometre time trials.
After missing so much football in his first season due to his knee injury, Perris told SwansTV he was itching to return to the track for the upcoming pre-season.
Your first season at the club didn’t turn out how you have hoped, given you required a knee reconstruction mid-year. What are your reflections on your first season at the Swans?
It obviously wasn’t ideal. I had a pretty consistent start to the year, so (the injury) was a bit disappointing because I was gearing up for a big second half of the season. I had to have another knee reconstruction, so it wasn’t ideal, but I’m really pumped to get into next season and get into pre-season.
Unfortunately it was your second knee reconstruction, but this time around you went with the LARS procedure. Why did you make that choice?
I did my knee when I was 16 and I had a lot of time back then, so I had a good 16 or 17 months off before I started playing footy. This time I was back running at eight weeks and it was just so much quicker, and it makes you feel so much more positive. Mentally as well, there seems to be no differences either way so I feel really confident about it just like I was last time.
So, will you be back for day one of pre-season?
I’ve got to come back a couple of weeks earlier than the other boys to do a few things, but I’ll be with them on the first day when I think we might have a three-kilometre time trial, so I’ll be ready for that.
You did have a terrific pre-season this year, particularly when it came to the running program. Did your good start to the year make the injury a little harder to deal with?
Yes, a little bit, but it meant I could learn more about other parts of the game that I need to work on. I know I’m a good runner, but there is so much more of the game that I need to learn, and that’s why I was a bit disappointed to have missed so much footy. No-one really wants to be around for the pre-season and not play much during the year. It should be the other way around.
You came through the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, so you had some experience being around the club, but what did you learn from being a part of the club in your first year?
I got to work a lot more closely with the coaches and got to work with some of the other boys who were coming through rehab like Rhyce Shaw and Benny McGlynn and then on game day I got the chance to work with the reserves coaches and just got the chance to see the game in a different way with Jared Crouch and Josh Francou up in the box.
Injuries aside, what do you hope to improve on in 2015 and what do you think you need to do to step up your game?
I think with my reaction time, I need to be a little bit faster in my decision making. The other one is just my consistency, I think. That’s what the best players at our footy club do, as do the guys who have stepped up to play senior footy like Jake Lloyd and Harry Cunningham.
What are your off-season plans?
I’m heading to Cambodia and Vietnam, so I’ve got a couple of weeks over there where I’ll do a bit of backpacking.
![](https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/SydneySwans/Club HQ/14Perris0311_620.jpg)