Despite being challenged by a fast-finishing UWS side in the final term, the Swans reserves held strong and claimed victory by five points.
“It was a step up from the practice matches and I think we needed that,” Dick told sydneyswans.com.au.
“It was hot out there and the ground was pretty hard, and everyone was cramping in the last quarter, but we managed to run it out, which was good.
“It certainly was some harder competition and I really enjoyed it. It was a tough game and it was good to get a win out of it.”
2012 draftee Dick was one of a number of young Swans who played in their first NEAFL game this weekend, with Dean Towers, Harry Marsh, Tim Membrey, Jake Lloyd, Brandon Jack, Xavier Richards and Dan Robinson all taking the field for their first home and away match.
Dick said a contest against UWS’ bigger-bodied players was the perfect challenge for the young Swans line up.
“UWS were really tough and were a bit more physical than what we have been playing in the practice matches,” he said.
“It was a good experience for some of the younger guys who will learn from it.
“There were a couple of panic moments in defence, but at the end of it, it was pretty relieving to get over the line, particularly against an AFL-listed team.”
On field, Dick lined up alongside Jordan Lockyer, Alex Brown and Harry Cunningham in the Swans defence and spent plenty of time working up the ground in Saturday afternoon’s clash.
Reflecting on his first performance at NEAFL level, Dick said his fitness was an area he would look to develop throughout the season.
“I was playing on the third tall working quite high up the ground and was trying to break the lines and give us inside 50s offensively as well,” he said.
“Now we’ve started playing, one thing I know I need to work on is my endurance base.
“It’s such a fast moving game and I need to really take my endurance to the next level and I also need to work on my skill execution and playing to the Swans game structure.”
In his first hit-out, the younger defender said he also benefitted from the on-field direction and leadership from senior players, including premiership players Craig Bird and Mitch Morton, as well as younger Swans Jed Lamb and Shane Biggs.
“We had (Craig) Birdy, Jesse White and Dre (Andrejs Everitt) playing on the weekend and Morto (Mitch Morton), so they were the experienced players and their voice around the ground was really good,” he said.
“Then we’ve got Jed Lamb and Shane Biggs who have also been quite helpful and quite vocal on the ground and have been doing a really good job and really helped us younger guys out.”
