The Sydney Swans' young stars were on full display in their first hit-out of the pre-season in a 24-point win over GWS at Blacktown International Sportspark on Friday morning.
Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Oliver Florent, Lewis Melican, Nick Blakey and Justin McInerney were just some of the stand-out Swans as Sydney defeated GWS 12.4.76 to 7.10.52 in a hard-fought match between the cross-city rivals.
With Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and Aliir Aliir all on AFLX duty, and Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and a number of other experienced Swans watching from the sideline, the stage was set for Sydney's emerging generation to fire.
Rookie-listed Sydney forward Toby Pink was first to hit the scoreboard with a goal on the run off his first touch early in the opening term, and from that moment the Swans never looked back.
The red and white took a 29-point buffer into quarter-time, they led by 31 points at the long break and they would run out the game after holding a 24-point lead at the final change.
Sydney coach John Longmire said he was thrilled with the performances of a long list of young Swans.
"Building up our game time is the priority at this point for all of our players, and we had a couple of youngsters show a bit today," Longmire said.
"It's good they're getting used to senior football, playing with senior players around them and seeing how everyone moves. That's probably the real key coming out of today - the younger players coming through."
Sydney Swans: 5.2 8.2 10.2 12.4 (76)
GWS: 0.3 2.7 5.8 7.10 (52)
BEST
GWS Giants: Taranto, Hopper, Caldwell, Daniels, Perryman
Sydney: Papley, Florent, Mills, Blakey, Lloyd, Rampe, Cunningham, Dawson
GOALS
GWS Giants: Lloyd 2, Perryman, Reid, Taranto, Sproule, Daniels
Sydney: Blakey 3, Papley 3, Cunningham 2, Hayward 2, Pink, Dawson
