Sam Reid has described his performance in Saturday night’s 71-point victory over Carlton as his most “well-rounded” game of the season.
The 22-year-old, who has spent time further up and the ground and in the ruck this season, was among the club’s best against the Blues, picking up 13 disposals, five marks and booting four-straight goals.
Speaking to SwansTV following Saturday night’s big win at the SCG, Reid said he was starting to feel more confident and at home in his new role this year.
“I’m feeling really confident, especially in my new role pinch-hitting in the ruck and playing a bit higher up the ground,” Reid said after the match.
“Over the last few weeks I’ve probably been good in some areas and my defensive work has been good, but my offensive game hasn’t been quite up to my standards.
“This week was a more well-rounded game in terms of my defensive and offensive work, but I won’t really know until I look at it through the week.
“But I think it was on the right track to where I want it to get.”
Reid’s confidence was evident on Saturday night, with the key tall presenting strongly in the forward line and also holding his ground at both centre bounce and ruck contests inside 50.
The young forward also reminded fans of his potential as a potent forward, with Reid finishing with a season-high four-goal haul, including an impressive effort which saw him burst 15 metres clear from a ruck contest and drive the ball home from outside 50.
With Lance Franklin and Adam Goodes also presenting up forward, Reid said he was also enjoying his time playing within the Swans’ potent attack this season.
“I guess having a couple of options up there in Goodesy and Buddy, we’re able to get a mismatch at times and if a small goes to one of us we’re able to exploit that,” he said,
“It’s handy having multiple keys up there.
“Having multiple options up there is a real positive and Kurt (Tippett) is only going to bolster that.
“It will be good to get him back and have another big, key target up there.”
Like many at the ground on Saturday night, Reid could do nothing but watch in awe as ‘Buddy’ Franklin piled on six second-half goals to help the Swans to their twelfth-straight win.
Reid said he was fortunate to be able to play alongside Buddy, and enjoyed watching him find his best form when the game was in the balance.
“I knew he’d kicked a couple but I didn’t realise that he’d kicked five in the third quarter,” he said.
“He does some amazing things and you just have to shake your head.
“I think I looked at (Swans runner) Nick Davis at one stage and he was doing the same.
“He does some freakish things but he works really hard.
“He was a little bit quiet in the first half but he knows if he sticks at it things will happen and they did again.”
The Swans will now enjoy a well-earned break, with the side drawing the bye this weekend.
Reid said he would head up the coast during his break and would take the time to relax and recuperate ahead of the Swans’ round 18 blockbuster against Hawthorn at the MCG in a fortnight’s time.
“I’ll try and relax and switch off a little bit,” he said,
“I’ll be heading up to Coffs Harbour and hopefully the weather is nice up there and I can have a relaxing few days.”