THE SYDNEY Swans have set the benchmark for defensive accountability in recent years but co-captain Craig Bolton says that part of the Swans’ game was “non-existent” against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

The Power booted seven unanswered goals during the second quarter of the NAB Cup clash at Manuka Oval to set up a 65-point win.

While Bolton said the efforts of some of the Swans’ young players was heartening, his side’s inability to put pressure on Port Adelaide’s ball carriers was of particular concern.

“I think yesterday highlighted that when we turned the ball over, we just couldn’t seem to get it back off them and that’s been something we’ve always been really good at… [but] yesterday it was almost non-existent,” Bolton said.

“We’ll still take some positives out of the game but at the end of the day, we wouldn’t have liked to have been beaten by that big a score.”

Bolton said the performances of novice ruckmen Jake Orreal and Mike Pyke, and the second-half run provided by young midfielder Brett Meredith gave the Swans something to take from the heavy defeat.

He said Pyke, the former Canadian rugby union international, was a “good chance” of a senior game later in the year, depending on the state of club’s ruck stocks.

“You just hope he doesn’t hurt someone when he goes out there because he’s so keen to get after the footy and get involved. Yesterday he was great and he’s only going to improve as the weeks go by,” Bolton said.

“He’s shown if he keeps improving the way he is, he’s every chance to put his hand up."

Bolton conceded the loss of Leo Barry for the start of the season, and the retirement of Tadhg Kennelly had weakened the Swans’ defence.

But he said Rhyce Shaw’s ability to slot almost seamlessly into the Swans’ defence was also a major plus, even if the former Magpie doesn’t become a regular down back.
 
“Hopefully [he’ll play in defence] but I think the midfield coach will keep pinching him and he’ll play more in the midfield,” he said.

“If he can play down back and you’ve got him and Nick Malceski and Martin Mattner, it certainly gives opposition forward lines something to think about. It’ll be a great look for us this year.”

The Swans travel to Visy Park on Saturday to take on Melbourne in a NAB Challenge clash and Bolton said Malceski and Lewis Roberts-Thomson were likely to return to the side, while spearhead Barry Hall was also a chance to play.


Dream Team watch – Craig Bolton is rated a $309,600 defender in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.