Sunday’s clash against GWS will be Stuart Dew’s time to shine as the assistant coaches complete the NAB Challenge coaching tag-team.
Dew, a senior assistant under Longmire and dual premiership player with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, will be passed the baton for the Swans’ third and final pre-season clash at Startrack Oval in Canberra.
It will be the Swans’ last competitive hit out before round one of the home and away season which places more emphasis on the playing group as the coaching staff look to iron out a final 22.
Dew was impressed with the improved effort across the board under fellow assistant Henry Playfair which resulted in a nine-point triumph against the Dockers at Drummoyne Oval last week.
The stand-in coach is expecting the same pressure and intensity against the Giants in bid to keep the momentum rolling into the April 4 opener at ANZ Stadium.
“We came from a low base in a pretty disappointing game against Brisbane,” he said. “But it was out first up game…the boys got going last week and played a bit more of our style.
“I think we got exactly what we wanted out of it and the players got a bit of confidence.”
Adam Goodes, Lance Franklin and Ted Richards were managed throughout the wet and windy affair at Drummoyne but as the build up to the season proper intensifies Dew said minutes will be upped in an effort to “top up” their respective preparations.
“There won’t be too much (player management)…given round one they’ll have to play 120 minutes,” he said.
“We’ll check in with them at half-time and three-quarter-time again but we’re looking forward to a lot more minutes (from those guys).”
As the hours count down to the first bounce on Sunday, Dew was quite calm about his coaching debut.
“I don’t get too nervous,” Dew said. “I used to get more nervous before time trials so this should be a breeze.”
Dew joined the Swans’ coaching panel as an assistant in 2010.