The real stuff has started for the Sydney Swans, who battled it out in a gruelling 80-minute intra-club match at Lakeside Oval this morning.

In what was the longest hit-out the team has had this year, pre-season late starters including Sam Reid, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Mike Pyke all played extended minutes in this morning’s clash.

Speaking to SwansTV after the clash, assistant coach Henry Playfair said today’s match was the perfect time to have three key position players back on the park.

“All those guys are key position players and we missed them at the start of the pre-season but it was good to see them all come in today and play some game time,” he said.

“It was really good for our structures so we can start getting what we want now we’re getting closer to the NAB Challenge.”

Reid, who played 60 minutes of the 80 minute match, looked in terrific form, taking countless overhead marks and applying intense defensive pressure.

Playfair was thrilled with Reid’s form and said he looked forward to increasing the young forward’s game time in the coming weeks.

“It was great to see him moving around and getting his hands on the football and getting a bit of his touch back,” he said.

“He hasn’t played for a while, so to get him out there was really pleasing.

“The thing about Reidy is that he works so hard offensively and defensively, so he helps us out on both sides of the footy as well as the blokes around him.

“It was good for him to get 60 minutes in today and we’ll look to get more into him next week.”

The Swans young players continued to shine in Friday’s hit-out, with Harry Cunningham, Dean Towers, Gary Rohan and Brandon Jack all impressing.

Cunningham kicked two goals in the first half of the match and played a role in Rohan’s two running goals late in the second term.

At the other end of the field, Towers lit up the forward 50 and kicked two consecutive goals, both which were set up by the silky skills of Jack.

The Swans senior players also led from the front with Ben McGlynn and Josh Kennedy racking up countless possessions in the midfield.

McGlynn was particularly impressive inside forward 50, where he slotted multiple goals in the second half of the match.

The club’s next intra-club match will take place next Wednesday, February 12 at Lakeside Oval at 5pm.

Playfair said the Swans would raise the level of intensity again in next week’s match in preparation for the upcoming NAB Challenge.

“The intra-club next Wednesday will be another good hit-out,” he said.

“We’re stepping up again to 100 minutes, so that will be more similar to a game and we’ll have some rotations coming on and off the ground.

“To get 100 minutes at this time of year will hold us in good stead for the week after.

“Hopefully the boys pull up well from today and then we’ll crank it up again next week.”