Sydney Swans co-captain Luke Parker is confident the team can begin to turn its season around in a clash with the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Although the Swans understand they’ve got a 46-man squad full of fresh faces, they are also intent on pushing for a 10th-straight finals appearance.
And although Sydney has opened its season with just one win from six games, Parker and his teammates are feeling the spark ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Gabba.
“The boys have still got a heap of energy and there’s a lot of buzz around the club,” Parker told SwansTV.
“And I think that’s the thing for the season; you need to keep that confidence up to turn it around. You can’t be thinking too much about the week before. We know we’re in a hard situation, but you’ve got to claw your way out, and we’re looking forward to hopefully turning our season around this week.”
Parker said the multimillion-dollar makeover to the Swans’ primary training venue had added to the midweek buzz.
Tuesday’s training session saw Parker and his teammates hit Moore Park’s Lakeside Oval for the first time since its redevelopment, the first stage in the club’s relocation to the precinct’s Royal Hall of Industries ahead of season 2021.
Spritely forward Will Hayward hasn’t lined up for the Swans since breaking his jaw in Sydney’s clash with Carlton in Round 3, but the 20-year-old took part in the Lakeside Oval session in a bid to be available for Saturday’s match against Brisbane.
Parker, who commended Hayward on his high spirits despite his painful three-week ride, would love to see the youngster return to meet the Lions.
“Will was surprised at how quickly he should be able to get back playing and hopefully he’s one who can put his hand up this week. He’s back on solid food which is great because he’s a pretty skinny frame,” Parker laughed.
“It would be great to have him back in the team and with someone like that – the young boys as a whole bring so much energy to this group, and they’re the ones that never lose the belief that we can turn our season around.”
