Conditioning the players in the lead up to the Round 2 match against Essendon on June 14 will be the key focus for the coaching and fitness staff over the next three weeks.
The Sydney Swans playing group returned to full contact training in wet and windy conditions on Monday morning with the team now allowed two contact training session per week.
It comes after a two-month industry stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that saw the list training remotely with many of the Swans players returning to their home states.
With just 18 days to go until Sydney’s season resumes, the emphasis is now on managing each player’s ability to be match ready for the clash with the Bombers.
Coach John Longmire said the program will gradually increase in intensity.
“It is a bit more like normal, so we are looking forward to giving our players the chance to get some competitive work under their belt in preparation for that Round 2 match,” Longmire said.
“All of us will be really making sure we get our players as prepared as best as we possibly can.
“Our main focus is that Round 2 preparation phase now and hoping that our players are ready to go in a physical sense.
“We will be trying to prevent any injuries and making sure they are nice and strong for the start of the season.”
One positive from the pause in the season is that it has enabled players such as Sam Reid, Lewis Melican and Lance Franklin to recover from injuries and returning to training.
Longmire is pleased with the way the players have returned from the enforced break and is looking forward to getting back into games.
“Everyone is in pretty good shape and we look forward to see how that goes over the next few weeks,” he said.
“It is a really important two-week training block now that we have in front of us, so everyone is managed a little bit.
“All of our players will need to be managed to make sure that they are fit and ready to go.”
The match against Essendon will take place at 3:35pm on Sunday, June 14 at the SCG. It will be shown LIVE on the Seven Network.
