While Swans fans were eager to see the combination of Reid and Kurt Tippett in the Swans’ forward line this year, save for ten minutes in the round 15 win over Melbourne, the pair never got on the park together in 2013.
The young forward spoke to sydneyswans.com.au about his frustrating season and how he managed his first serious injury.
A disappointing year for you due to injury, but what did you make of your season in 2013?
The first half of my playing season probably wasn’t what I would have liked it to be and my form was a bit down, but in saying that the few weeks before I hurt my quad I thought I was starting to get a bit of form back and was starting to play more of the football I would have liked, but unfortunately that was the end of it in round nine.
How frustrating was it for you this season dealing with a couple of setbacks?
It was pretty annoying. I know you can always be in a worse position and you only need to look across the physio room to Alex Johnson who was out for the whole season, so I know it can be worse. It was also definitely frustrating to get back to playing and then only lasting five minutes and then trying to do a full training session but not being able to get through that.
I knew a few weeks before the end of the season that I knew it was done, but it probably hit me a bit more on the weekend of the preliminary final watching the boys and not being able to do anything to help them get over the line.
How did you feel to hear that your season was over ahead of this year’s finals series?
It was pretty frustrating but at the same time it was a bit of a stress-free feeling because you know that you can start concentrating on getting right for pre-season and knowing there is no rush because I was running out of time towards the end. After hearing there was no chance of coming back I could sort of relax a little bit in a way and try to get my head around it and just enjoy watching the boys.
Reflecting on the season, who do you see as the biggest improvers this year?
I think Jed Lamb had a really good year. He was always going to and I think last year he was a good chance but he faced injuries and the year before as well. I think Lamby is one who really impressed me and it was great to see him and a lot of young guys do really well. Harry Cunningham over the last few weeks did really well and Shane Biggs and Tommy Mitchell, and it was unfortunate for him with his injury.
When you do come back for pre-season, what areas do you hope to improve on?
I think my fitness this year was the one thing I noticed starting to help when I was playing some okay football because I was able to move up and down the ground a bit more. Definitely having Kurt Tippett there next year I’ll have to work up the ground a bit and be able to run around a bit more and try to win the ball that way rather than just being plonked one out with the big key defenders, which is probably more Tippo’s go than mine.
What are your plans for the off-season?
I’m heading to Bali for a few weeks with a few of my team mates and then will be spending another week over there with my girlfriend, which will be relaxing.
