A host of new Sydney Swans could be set to play their first official games in red and white at Adelaide Oval next Saturday, coach John Longmire says.
Four new Swans in Lewis Taylor, Sam Gray, Kaiden Brand and Dylan Stephens were in action as Sydney fell to North Melbourne in a gripping Marsh Community Series encounter in Hobart on Monday – and Longmire says every one of them is in calculations for his side’s season-opening clash with the Adelaide Crows.
“We’ve got some decisions to make for the first game,” Longmire said post-match.
“There are blokes in the frame that haven’t played for us before, whether they’re guys from other clubs in Sam Gray, Lewis Taylor or Kaiden Brand, or draftee Dylan Stephens. They’re all in our discussions for the first game and there were a couple of them who did quite well today.”
Stephens was the only 2019 Swans draftee selected for both Marsh Community Series games.
The Swans’ first pick five since Jarrad McVeigh in 2002 played on a wing in the match against the Kangaroos and finished the game with 12 possessions.
Gray, who crossed from Port Adelaide during November’s delisted free-agency period, split his time between the forward line and stoppages on the trip to Tasmania.
Brand, who left Hawthorn for Sydney as a delisted free agent, held down a key defensive post on Monday, while Taylor played a starring role at half-forward and in the midfield.
The 2014 AFL Rising Star winner, who Sydney recruited from Brisbane through a three-way trade involving Carlton in October, collected 25 touches and a goal and impressed with his navigation in heavy traffic.
Longmire was thrilled with the performance of the former Lion.
“Lewis is a smart player,” Longmire said.
“He’s played a bit of senior footy and you can see that. We got him for his experience. We have a lot of young boys and he gives us some experience. He’s played a fair bit of senior footy and he’s fitted in quite well. His game was pretty strong today.”
Longmire was also pleased with the signs shown by three of his fit-again players.
“It was Isaac Heeney’s first game and we had a couple of blokes in that boat,” Longmire said.
“Isaac seemed to pull up well and Sam Naismith and Tom McCartin were the same. Those boys played more minutes and they pulled up early, once they had played their allocated time, so hopefully they’ll be right for next week.”
