The Sydney Swans will be looking to set the foundations for a strong start to the home and away season when they kick off their NAB Challenge campaign against Brisbane on Friday night.
It will be the club’s first competitive game for the pre-season after a number of intra club matches over the last few weeks.
Acting senior coach John Blakey said the match provided important match practice under a month from the start of the home and away season.
“Obviously it is the first opportunity for us to show what we can do and what we put forward and we want to play Swans footy straight up,” Blakey said.
“We are not here to change game plans or do anything radical like that,”
“We are here to make sure we get the foundation in place and have a really good preparation so we can be ready to go by round one.”
Coach John Longmire has handed the reins over to his assistant coaches to take charge during the NAB Challenge with Blakey the first in the hot seat for Friday night’s clash with the Lions.
“It should be interesting although we have a great coaching team with Stewy Dew, Henry Playfair and Josh Francou all playing their role as well,” Blakey said.
“I am looking forward to it and it will be a little bit different being the guy in charge.”
“Each of the boys are going to take a game so I think they are all looking forward to it, we are competitive amongst each other at the best of times,”
“Not too much has changed it is just about taking the meetings and being the face for the week so that would be the main thing that has changed.”
The Swans have named a young line-up for the match with Jarrad McVeigh, Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Ted Richards all to sit out the match.
Eight players yet to play a senior game have been named in the team’s squad with recruits Issac Heeney, Abe Davis, Jack Hiscox and Lewis Melican all selected.
Toby Nankervis, George Hewett, Daniel Robinson and Harry Marsh will also be given an opportunity to display their pre-season progress after being selected in the squad.
