While the Sydney Swans senior team are likely to be battling the cold conditions in Launceston this weekend, the Swans reserves will be playing in hot and humid conditions when they take on the NT Thunder in Darwin on Saturday night.
With temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees, Swans midfielder Jarred Moore said the reserves side have been doing some special training to prepare for this weekend’s match.
“It’s going to be about 30 degrees and pretty humid up there so we’re doing a bit of heat training,” he said.
“We’re doing some bike and slider and that sort of stuff, and we’re doing it in a room that is closed off with the heaters cranked up to 30 degrees.
“It gets really stuffy in there, which makes it hard to breathe, so it’s pretty challenging.”
Moore said there is no doubt this weekend’s game against last year’s NEAFL champions is going to be a tough match for the Swans reserves.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge and the body has to get used to it and that’s why we do these things to try and prepare for it,” he said.
“It’s a mental challenge even going down to Canberra and it’s hard for the guys to get up in different surroundings, but it’s always a good experience for the younger players, and one they have to get used to.
“I’ve heard some reports that (NT Thunder) are pretty tough to play against at home, so it’s going to be a good challenge for us.
“I’m sure they are going to be a pretty good side in some pretty good form.”
With teams like the Thunder as well as the new AFL clubs reserves teams in this year’s competition, Moore said the NEAFL is the perfect training ground for players pushing for senior selection.
“The NEAFL is good with all the teams like NT, the Gold Coast and GWS, it means there are a lot of AFL players involved, so it’s really good to try and test yourself against those guys,” he said.
“It also helps you push for selection if you’re playing well on other AFL guys.”
Moore added that some of the Swans up-and-coming players have shown great form in the reserves competition, and said he expected to see them push for a senior spot in the coming months.
“Definitely Harry Cunningham has really come on in his first year and has really shown some good signs,” he said.
“Big Tommy Walsh wasn’t far off a game in round one, and in the last two weeks he’s been on fire so he’s just a real competitor and I’m sure he’s not far away from getting a game.”
Moore himself was named as an emergency in last week’s senior squad following a good month of football in the reserves.
Last year’s Eastern Conference best and fairest said hoped his form and role in the reserves squad would lead to senior selection as the season progresses.
“My aim was to show some good form, and I think I’ve done that over the past four rounds,” he said.
“I’ve been part of the leadership group for four years now and I’ve really taken that on board as a role I can do around the club.
“If it’s playing in the seniors I’ll be trying to help them and if it’s playing in the reserves then I’ll be trying to help others as well.
“I just need to keep setting a good example and basically just wait for my time.”
Darwin's Mix 104.9 will be calling all the action of Saturday night's game between NT Thunder and the Sydney Swans reserves and can be streamed by clicking here.
