Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh says the Sydney Swans are ready for the real stuff to start when they take on GWS at Spotless Stadium next Saturday afternoon.
Speaking at the annual Sydney Swans Fan Day presented by Volkswagen, McVeigh said the Swans were expecting a tough clash against their cross-town rivals next weekend.
“We’re looking forward to a big game against GWS, who have really improved their game in the last few weeks, so they’re going to be hard to beat,” he said.
“They are such good runners and are so fast and have really good skills, so we’re going to have to close those guys down and then hopefully we can work them the other way.
“They’re a very talented team, but hopefully we can start well and get on top early.”
GWS’s tall forward line is likely to be one of their strengths, with All-Australian forward Jeremy Cameron and former number one draft pick Jonathon Patton likely to line up against the Swans next weekend.
McVeigh said the Swans’ defenders would have their work cut out for them against GWS’s talented talls, but said he had full confidence in his team’s defensive stocks.
“(GWS) are such a highly talented team and obviously Jeremy Cameron is one of their best players so we’re going to have to stop him, and then they’ve got Patton,” he said.
“Teddy (Ted Richards) and Reg (Heath Grundy) have played on the big boys before and we’ve got LRT (Lewis Roberts-Thomson) if we need him and (Jeremy) Laidler has played well in the pre-season, so we’ve got enough to cover there.”
McVeigh said Laidler, who arrived at the Swans as a delisted free agent from Carlton, had really impressed him throughout the pre-season and could be in the mix to play his first senior game for the Swans next week.
“(Laidler) has been great. He’s very courageous going back with the footy and he’s got good skills and he’s played his role beautifully over the last three practice games,” he said.
“We’ll see if he gets a run this week, but he’s been a really handy addition for us.”
The Swans made their final preparations ahead of the season opener this weekend, when they posted a 27-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Burpengary on Saturday.
McVeigh, who was one of the standouts for the Swans finishing the match with 34 disposals, nine clearances and a goal, said Saturday’s win was a good way to wrap up the club’s pre-season campaign.
“It was good to get into some form,” McVeigh said.
“Leading into round one you want to get a bit of the ball and the team wants to play some good footy and play the way we want to play, and we got that out of the game.”
“We’ve made it now and it’s been good to get through (the pre-season) without any injuries or anything like that.”
Jarrad McVeigh at the 2014 Sydney Swans Fan Day presented by Volkswagen
