Ben McGlynn’s comeback trail will take a definitive step when the Swans NEAFL side takes on Ainslie in the opening round of the home and away season.
McGlynn will travel to Canberra to play alongside a bevy of senior-listed Swans for the first round clash against the Tricolours at Alan Ray Oval.
The 29-year-old, who hasn’t played a game since straining his hamstring in the Swans’ first NAB Challenge match against Brisbane in Coffs Harbour, will inject plenty of experience into the Swans’ young outfit.
Development coach Marty Mattner, who took over the NEAFL coaching reins alongside Jared Crouch this season, was looking forward to seeing McGlynn push for senior selection with a solid run under his belt.
Elevated rookie Sam Naismith is named to make the journey to Canberra alongside fellow senior emergencies Harry Cunningham and Dan Robinson.
Brandon Jack, Xavier Richards, Tom Mitchell and Zak Jones are other notable names to feature while Swans fans in attendance will get to see a hoard of 2014 draft selections in action for the first time.
Having contested only two practice matches during the off-season, Mattner said round one will offer valuable game time for players looking to “force their way into the eyesight of senior coaches”.
“The basic principle for us is to get them ready for AFL football,” Mattner said. “The quicker we can do that, the better.”
About a dozen Swans playing tomorrow featured in last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss to Aspley.
The start of the season and tomorrow’s bumper clash with Ainslie will be used to wipe the two-point defeat from the memory bank.
“It was certainly disappointing,” Mattner said. “But they’ve moved on from that, learned from the experience and will be keen on another big season.”
The coach added the team’s focus was centred on playing Swans football.
“We’ve got no preconceived ideas of what Ainslie will do, which is not a bad thing because we can go into the game knowing our structures and how we want to play,” Mattner added.
“If we do that then we’ll go a long way to winning the game.”
The Swans NEAFL squad:
1. James Rose
6. Tom Mitchell
7. Harry Cunningham*
9. Abaina Davis
10. Zak Jones
13. Toby Nankervis
17. Jack Hiscox
21. Ben McGlynn
27. Daniel Robinson*
29. George Hewett
30. Sean McLaren
31. Harry Marsh
33. Brandon Jack
36. Aliir Aliir
35. Sam Naismith*
42. Xavier Richards
45. Jordan Foote
52. Jack Campbell
53. Erol Sertbas
55. Elijah Burton
49. Zac Fyffe
51. Will Taylor
54. Lachlan Maples
50. Nick Foster
*Cunningham, Robinson and Naismith have been named as emergencies for the senior squad.
