Gordon has recently been duelling with Ed Barlow in the running events but Barlow was absent yesterday, rested from training. However Gordon didn't relax, and was still able to cut one second from the time he set four weeks earlier when the players were first tested this pre-season.
"Ed didn't run it and we would usually push each other during the races and get each other's times up," Gordon said, "So I am happy my time was consistent with the last time I ran."
Ryan O'Keefe finished behind Gordon in second place and co-captain Brett Kirk crossed the line in third.
While the majority of players were tested four weeks ago, that wasn't the case for the recently drafted players. They were tested when they first arrived at the club two weeks ago, and it was encouraging to see how significantly their times had improved in that short time.
The club's first draft pick, Gary Rohan, reduced his time by a massive 31 seconds. However the club's conditioning staff weren't surprised and said they expected those types of improvements because the new boys now know the track and can pace themselves better over the distance.
But it wasn't just the draftees who showed big improvement. Adam Goodes and Ben McGlynn both smashed their previous 3km time by 25 seconds, Shane Mumford reduced his by 24 seconds and Taylor Gilchrist and Brett Meredith improved by 23 seconds.
There were also a number of players who ran personal best times on Monday, including Craig Bird, Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski and Matt O'Dwyer.
"Overall we were impressed with yesterday's run, especially the number of players who improved on their previous times as well as those that ran personal bests," Elite Performance Coach Rob Spurrs said. "There are certainly some good signs as we head into the Christmas break at the end of this week."
The players have one last test on Friday, a high intensity exercise called the yo-yo test, which looks similar to a beep test but is more specific for AFL training.
When they undergo that test, 19-year-old Gordon will officially be a Sydney Swans' rookie listed player, following the Rookie Draft today.
Gordon has spent more than a year as a Sydney Swans NSW scholarship player after he was signed in May 2008. Throughout that time he has been a regular at training as well as playing for the Swans Reserves and has impressed with his commitment and elite running ability.
"If I didn't go through the scholarship program I am not sure that I would be rookie-listed today," Gordon said, "So I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had so far and it is now up to me to work hard, really apply myself and get the best out of the year as a rookie.
"I was happy with the second half of my season and I want to carry that form over into next season and just do everything the coaches want of me.
"I want to focus more on my skill training and more on game running, which is more stop, start, short bursts, tackling, chasing your man type of running.
"I haven't yet played in a pre-season game and that is one of my early goals, to get a game. It will show me what it is like to play senior AFL footy and I can then go back into the reserves and know where I have to be at to get a senior game."
The Sydney Swans playing list is finalised on Tuesday and the Swans want to make sure you're also part of the team. To join up, or to renew your membership, please go to sydneyswans.com.au/membership, or phone 1300 663 819.
