The Sydney Swans have had a big pre-season and recorded back-to-back wins in their practice matches. But now it's time to prove that hard work pays off, according to assistant coach, Tanya Hetherington.

How have preparations been so far during pre-season and what has impressed you most?

The players have obviously had a longer pre-season in comparison last year and they have been working so hard on improving their game on and off the field. Not only has GPS tracking allowed for larger training loads, but the team are in a far better physical condition than what they were ahead of Round One last year. 

That is not only a testament to their work ethic but also the high training standards that we are driving. Training intensity should reflect the game, and we are confident that it will resonate on the field.

The intensity of training has impressed me the most, without doubt. Their willingness to get their hands dirty from day one - whether it be the physical component or extra running. The players' efforts have never wavered.

Those were the traits we were looking for in the playing group, and we feel they are in the best position possible to start the season the right way.  

What were some key takeaways from our pre-season matches against Gold Coast and Carlton?

The main takeaway is that our system works, and we are able to compete with quality opposition. 

We based our performance in those games purely on us - we didn't overly care about the end result. We wanted to ensure the correct process was in place, so when we play for competition points, the players understand what is required and what is needed to get the job done. 

We started both games really well and that's a sign that the players are focused pre-game and ready to perform, which was really pleasing. Now, it's about sustaining it for four quarters.

What are you hoping to improve on from those performances? 

We need to find consistency across the game and reduce the lapses. We want to see a team that has a good resolve when things don't go our way, and be able to adapt on their own when the game is changing and evolving.

We know the game won't always be on our terms, but we need to find a way to win the arm wrestle and play the way we want to play.

What players have really impressed you ahead of Round One?

We felt there have been a lot of players who have impressed for different reasons. Brooke Lochland plays a pivotal role as one of our the more senior players in the team, and obviously Chloe Molloy, Lucy McEvoy, and Laura Gardiner have had huge impacts.

In saying that, we have been really impressed with some of the younger contingent who are coming off huge pre-seasons.

Ally Morphett

The work she has done in the off-season has paid dividends. She competed really well in both games and her ability to cover the ground was really noticeable.

Sofia Hurley

She was definitely one that shined across both games. What I liked was not only he ability to win the ball, but how she used it. She was quite composed with the footy and worked well with the other midfield contingent

Brenna Tarrant

She plays a really important role in defence and set-up a lot of our ball movement from the back half, She is a great competitor and prides her self on winning one-on-one contests. She will play a big part in our defence this season

Rebecca Privitelli

She has certainly taken her game to a new level with her defensive efforts on top of her work rate in the forward 50. She has a great overhead mark, and we know she can kick goals, but now she is a more well rounded player and we're all excited to see what she can bring.

What can members and fans expect to see from the Swans this weekend against GIANTS?

You will see a team that is desperate to compete for the full four quarters, and a team that won't shy away from the contest. Every player has a strong desire to win, and plenty of self-belief.

We have signed some big-game players, but from what we have seen in pre-season and the practice matches, we know everyone needs to play their respective roles if we are to succeed in 2023.

We're looking forward to seeing plenty of red and white in the stands, because the players have been open about how much they thrive off playing in-front of a big crowd.