The Sydney Swans have recorded a 43-point win over Carlton at Blacktown on Friday night with youngster Errol Gulden dominating with 45 disposals and 3 goals, leading the Swans to the 15.7 (97) to 7.12 (54) victory.
See what assistant coach Jarrad McVeigh had to say following the Swans final pre-season hit out against Carlton last night.
On Errol Gulden’s performance
It is probably as good as a game as you’ll ever see. 45 touches, three goals but he also led our pressure acts as well and that was one thing we wanted to get right tonight. We wanted to get our defence and get sorted and the way we started the game was really pleasing. The boys looked sharp and they came to play.
He played a lot more midfield tonight (with Millsy having a rest) and we probably needed that extra run through there. We know he can play forward, wing or midfield but tonight it was probably more midfield for him and he came through in flying colours. That was pleasing for him and hopefully his trajectory as a player can keep moving upward.
It’s only a pre-season game so we will temper that. We know he is a good player, he trains extremely hard, he hones his craft, has beautiful skills but he works on his all-round game all the time so hopefully he can continues to progress well (he is in his third year now), but he has a really good pre-season and hopefully that leads into next week.
Hayden McLean and Peter Ladhams performance
We tried to get plenty of minutes into our tall players and it was good to have Pete back and get jumping again. I thought he played really well and was performing well for us. Our mids were really clear with him on what they want and that was really pleasing.
Hayden playing forward with Buddy, Sam Reid and Logan, and getting good rotations with those guys was also really pleasing to see the way they moved.
Selection for Round One – Papley and Mills
We will have to wait and see how the next two weeks go and see who pulls up well. We have Paps and Millsy available which will be great for us, but these are great selection dilemmas to have.
They trained today this morning with our VFL and they got through well so we will see how they go the next 10 days or so.
Harry Cunningham playing forward
That could be a role moving forward. With Ryan Clarke going down injured, there is a role for that smaller forward and he took that tonight really well. I was really pleased with his speed, pressure around the ball and then getting on the scoreboard as well. We know he can play down back, he has played a lot there through his career, but it was nice to see him down forward and getting our systems sorted down there.
He is an experienced player so his voice and communication helps us as well.
Lance Franklin
He doesn’t play too many pre-season games but playing on a good player in Jacob Weitering, it was pleasing to see him get his minutes under his belt and move well.
He will get a break leading into Round One, but it was nice to see him out there. There were tough conditions early, particularly in the wet, but it was pleasing to see him.
Pre-season games recap
Especially after last week, we wanted to get our systems and our technical things in place but more importantly our effort and pressure around the ball which was much better this week.
It has been good to play two very quality teams leading into Round One so that has been pleasing for us.
That was the plan, to put in a really strong performance tonight and get our defence right because that’s where the rest of our game generally follows on from so that was really pleasing.
The Swans will kick off their season in a fortnight's time when they face the Gold Coast Suns in Round One.
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