He began his AFL career as a lively forward but the 2010 season could see Patrick Veszpremi going back - literally - to his footballing roots.

The 20-year-old spent most of his junior career as a creative defender and he showed promise when he returned to that role with the Swans reserves late in 2009.

A late-season injury ruled out any chance of Veszpremi being tested as a defender at AFL level but he remained keen to give it a try.

“I like kicking goals - I think a few people know that - but I like the half-back line as well,” Veszpremi said.

“I played all my junior footy as a half back and the only reason I went forward was because I had a bung shoulder in my last year.

“I don’t mind the half-back line and if that’s where the coaches want to play me, I’m more than happy to play there.”

After an off-season break that involved plenty of fishing with his grandfather in Melbourne and a trip to Thailand with his brother, Veszpremi returned to Sydney ready to embark on his toughest pre-season yet.

He said the past month chasing the Swans’ elite runners such as Ryan O’Keefe, Ed Barlow, Nathan Gordon and Matt O’Dwyer had been a valuable learning experience.

“I’m improving my base a bit more. I haven’t beaten my PBs yet but hopefully I can just keep working on it and build up a bit more,” Veszpremi said.

“I’m finding now that I’m learning how to run a bit more. I’ve been taking myself out in the first couple of laps and trying to hold on, instead of just waiting for the last lap.”

If Veszpremi’s prospective move to half back eventuates, it will be just another one of a string of changes for the Swans in 2010.

He said the arrival of so many new players had added a different dynamic to the pre-season slog.

“There’s a bit more excitement, a bit more of the unknown about what people can bring to the team,” he said.

“There are heaps of new faces and when we start playing games, it’s good to see how they go and the different things they can bring.

“Last year, you knew what everyone was going to bring to the table, but this year is a bit different. It’s really exciting because there’s a really different bunch of blokes out there.”

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