With the Grand Final loss now 50 days in arrears, the chance to officially put down the first steps in anger towards 2015 was welcomed by the enthusiastic young group, including three players from the season decider in Dane Rampe, Harry Cunningham and Jake Lloyd.
That enthusiasm was somewhat tempered by the start of the dreaded first-day three-kilometre time-trial around Lakeside Oval and the adjoining Centennial Parklands.
Our boys are back on the track today for the first day of pre-season. Have you got your 2015 membership yet? membership.sydneyswans.com.au
A star in his athletic tests at the recent AFL Draft Combine, it was no surprise to see new recruit Jack Hiscox impress over the distance.
Hiscox took an early lead and consistently increased his gap on the field throughout the time-trial, taking out the honours from Rampe, Lloyd Perris, Cunningham and Dan Robinson.
Speaking to SwansTV following the session, the QBE Sydney Swans Academy graduate said he hoped to continue leading from the front throughout the rest of the pre-season.
“It was pretty good, it was the first thing of the day, nice and early, but it felt really good,” Hiscox said about his performance.
“I just wanted to go out there and run a really good time, and set a standard for myself for all of pre-season and I think I did that today, so I’m pretty happy.”
With a strong reputation in national athletics carnivals, and setting new records for the beep test and three-kilometre time-trial at this year’s Combine, Hiscox said he didn’t feel any extra pressure to perform, but rather he wanted to put his best foot forward on his first day.
“There was a little bit of changeroom chat, and coaches do expect you to come out and at least run close to your best, but that comes with any person when it comes to pre-season,” he said.
“I was just happy to go out there and start the pre-season off well and (hopefully I made a good) first impression.”
The time-trial was followed by some skills work and finished with a session of arduous repeat sprints.
Tom Derickx, Aliir Aliir and Perris all returned following the respective injuries which ruled them out of the second-half of the 2014 season, with Perris particularly impressive on his resumption from a ruptured anterior cruciate.
Training continues tomorrow with the first weights session of the pre-season.
