A number of senior Swans will return to full training in the New Year, with Adam Goodes, Mike Pyke, Sam Reid and Craig Bird all on target to join the main pre-season group in January.
Speaking to SwansTV for the HCF Injury Update, club physiotherapist Tim Needham said Goodes and Pyke had been assigned individual programs, which has seen them start their fitness programs later than the main group.
“Those guys are working together down in the gym on the off-legs equipment and are also doing some running,” Needham said.
“But given their age, they spend a bit of time away from the main group early on and then have a late start to the season.
“They’re not far away from getting back into the main group as well.”
After undergoing post-season surgery, Reid and Bird also experienced a later start to their training programs, but Needham said the pair are also in line for a January return.
“Sam and Craig both had some minor knee surgery, and they are both back and are up and running and are not far away from joining the main group,” he said.
“They’ve been concentrating on building their fitness before joining the main group.”
Key forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett are also set to increase their training loads in the new year, after spending time away from the main group getting miles into their legs.
“Lance and Kurt are training on similar programs at the moment,” Needham said.
“Again, they are spending some time away from the main group and are building their fitness and doing a lot of boxing and some other off-legs training.
“They’ll re-join the main group fully in January.”
Following a long injury layoff in 2014, rookie midfielder Lloyd Perris has also made ground in his recovery from a knee reconstruction.
Needham said the 19-year-old, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a Swans reserves match in July, had already returned to the main training group for skills.
“Lloyd had a knee reconstruction in July of this year,” he said.
“He has just re-joined the main group for skills.
“Up until now he’s been training away from the main group and has been doing his fitness running and skills away from the main skills group, but he’s back in there now.
“He’ll be looking to build on that into the new year.”
Meanwhile, new rookie Nic Newman has experienced a setback since joining the club at the start of the month, with the 21-year-old suffering a knee injury.
Needham said he expected the defender would be able to resume training in late January.
“Nic unfortunately had to undergo some minor knee surgery, just an arthroscopy to his knee,” he said.
“He’s actually in rehab at the moment, so he won’t start training until after Christmas and from there we’ll build his fitness and get him into skills at the back end of January.”
Senior Swans target January return
Senior Swans including Mike Pyke and Adam Goodes are targeting a return to full training in January