Ruck spot up for grabs
Paul Roos is looking to one of three young Swans to fill the back-up ruckman role
The Swans have not won a pre-season competition game since 2003, and Sunday's match at Manuka Oval was no different with the Power triumphing by 65 points.
However, Roos said he will take plenty away from the game as it gave him an opportunity to trial certain players in roles recently vacated owing to injuries, retirements and resignations.
"You take more from it because there's spots -- the ruck spot, Leo Barry's out, Tadhg Kennelly [is gone]," he said.
"If you said Shawy (Rhyce Shaw) in for Kennelly, at least it gives you a bit of hope that you're not going to lose too much there. Shawy was good.
Much interest surrounded the Swans’ ruck division with Canadian Mike Pyke and former volleyball prospect Jake Orreal seemingly battling it out to establish themselves as Darren Jolly’s understudy.
Roos said he liked what he saw from the inexperienced duo.
"The two rucks, 'Pykey'(Mike Pyke) and Jake [Orreal] did pretty well.
"There were a couple of positives in that regard ... and I thought [Heath] Grundy did very well down back in the second half.
It brings to light an interesting conundrum for Roos, as Daniel Currie – the preferred option to rotate with Jolly in the ruck – still suffering from a sore groin.
"We need a back-up ruckman, clearly, and young Daniel Currie has had a lot of injuries through the pre-season so there's a spot there," Roos said.
Currie will be "touch and go" for the Swans NAB Challenge match against Melbourne next week, opening the door for Pyke or Orreal, as well as Jesse White, to stake their claims.
“We're probably more looking to play Jesse White in the ruck next week or the week after, because he did that last year and did OK,” Roos said.
"It will probably come down to White, Orreal or Pyke at this stage.
"What Mike has got over Jake is that he's physically a bit more developed, and Jake is the younger player.
"Both of them competed really well in the ruck. They're going to improve over the next three weeks and we'll see how we go for round one."