Sydney Swans development coach Tadhg Kennelly has continually drilled home the importance of heat at the contest and says that’s again the focus ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final against the Canberra Demons.
The Swans will face the Demons at Blacktown International Sportspark as they eye a third-straight grand final berth, this time in a clash with the Southport Sharks or Aspley Hornets next week.
The Swans finished the regular season in second to earn a week off in the opening round of the finals and Kennelly says they are now ready to play trademark contested footy against the Demons.
“The reason we’ve been stressing the message about contested footy is that’s what expected when you play finals football,” Kennelly told SwansTV.
“You don’t change the format or brand you’re playing and we’ve played finals-like football all year and the brand and the style we’ve played gives you a good grounding for when you play finals football. It’s hard, it’s contested, it’s territory.”
The Swans have made six changes for their date with the Demons, welcoming back into the squad Dean Towers, Robbie Fox, Harry Marsh, Jordan Dawson, Ryley Stoddart and Jack Maibaum.
Towers, Fox, Marsh, Dawson and Stoddart will add invaluable AFL experience to the Swans’ stocks, while Maibaum has impressed as a key defender in the NEAFL this year and is set to return from a knee injury.
Darcy Cameron will line up in the ruck and Colin O’Riordan at half-back, two players who were up in lights at the recent NEAFL MVP Awards Ceremony and promise to have a critical bearing on the outcome of the game.
Cameron finished runner-up in the NEAFL MVP and joined O’Riordan in the NEAFL Team of the Year.
Kennelly expects the star duo to carry momentum into Saturday’s preliminary final.
“They’ll take a lot of confidence from that night,” Kennelly said.
“It’s always great to get awards and the recognition and those boys are looking to back up and push for selection if the seniors can beat GWS.
“They’re all about the process and getting the job done and they’ve been really good, consistent performers for us all year and I’m sure it won’t change on the weekend.”
Canberra fronted an elimination final battle with Sydney University off the back of four losses in a row.
But the Demons would rise to the occasion at Blacktown International Sportspark, leading at every change and clinching a six-point victory.
Gun midfielder Mitch Maguire led the way in a return of 45 possessions and 10 tackles, while former QBE Sydney Swans Academy member Harry Carr bagged three goals.
Little separated the Swans and Demons across the first three quarters when the sides met in the nation’s capital just last month, before Sydney ran in six goals to Canberra’s zero in the final term to grab a 13-point win.
Kennelly says his troops are set to meet a top-quality team.
“Canberra’s ability to put the pressure on Sydney Uni was very clear to see.
“They’re a quality outfit and the most impressive thing about the way they played last week was the team football they played. They really did play as a team and the one unit and they got the result.”
Kennelly says the Swans are up and about ahead of the Demons clash.
“It’s a good time of year to be playing football,” Kennelly said.
“Finals at any level is great and the NEAFL boys are certainly pretty excited to get out and play.
“Having the week off last week allows us to freshen up, both in the seniors and NEAFL.”
Who: Sydney Swans v Canberra Demons
Where: Blacktown International Sportspark
When: 11:30am
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Sydney Swans team:
B: 51. Connor Flanagan 54. Kyle Veerhuis 53. Kyle McKellar
HB: 33. Ryley Stoddart 21. Jack Maibaum 31. Harrison Marsh
C: 22. Dean Towers 45. Angus Styles 1. James Rose
HF: 41. Jake Brown 34. Jordan Dawson 16. Gary Rohan
F: 55. Bailey Stewart 58. Mitchell Rogers 42. Robbie Fox
Foll: 17. Darcy Cameron 32. James Bell 38. Colin O’Riordan
Inter: 49. Cooper Kilpatrick 56. Joey Reinhard 50. Sam Wicks 52. Josh Stern
Emer: 59. Hamish Ellem 47. Ky McGrath 57. Michael Carroll
In: 34. Jordan Dawson 42. Robbie Fox 21. Jack Maibaum 31. Harrison Marsh 33. Ryley Stoddart 22. Dean Towers
