It was a battle to the bitter end today as the Swans best runners fought it out in the 3km time trial.

Rookie Eugene Kruger, who ran second to midfield star Dan Hannebery in the 3km run just before Christmas, got one back today when he held on for a gutsy win.

Hannebery came at him 200m from the finish line, but Kruger gritted his teeth and came home strongly.

Kruger,  who was born in South Africa and has only taken up Australian football in the past three years, then showed his team spirit by running the last part of the race again with Trent Dennis-Lane, who was finding the going tough as he neared the finish line.

Kruger is a gifted runner who has given up athletics and rugby union to try his hand seriously at AFL, earning a Swans rookie list spot late last year.

Hannebery, who came in just ahead of another talented rookie in Nathan “Nipper’’ Gordon, said it was a great hitout for the players after a few weeks of mainly skills-based training.

“We haven’t done a lot of specific endurance running in the past few weeks. There has been a lot more footy and game-style running,’’ Hannebery said.

“So to see most of the boys run well today and come home close to their personal best shows we are still really fit.’’

Hannebery, who was the AFL’s Rising Star last year, said his effort today was a few seconds slower than his pre-Christmas personal best  but was still under 10 minutes so he was satisfied.

“We are where we want to be at this time of year and now we can’t wait to start playing footy with the pre-season cup only three weeks away,’’ Hannebery said.

Other players to run well today included Josh Kennedy, who ran a personal best for the 3k - he cut eight seconds off his previous best, and has significantly improved his endurance since he came to the Swans in 2009.

2010 draftee Alex Johnson was up with the front runners and was also rapt to run a personal best.

“I took nine seconds off my pre-Christmas time so I’m very happy,’’ said Johnson, who was a third round pick for the Swans in the 2010 draft.

As running fitness turns to game fitness, the Swans will play their first intra-club match on February 11 at Lakeside Oval opposite the SCG.