IT MIGHT be the middle of summer but Sydney turned on its best footy weather for the Swans' final training session of the year.
Heavy rain and a sodden Lakeside Oval greeted a handful of spectators who turned out to watch the vast majority of the list take part in an hour-long practice match.
Prodigal son Tadhg Kennelly was a clear standout over the four quarters, using the ball with precision off half-back and running forward to slot three goals.
However, Kennelly was shaded in the first half by livewire forward Trent Dennis-Lane, who made a mockery of the slippery conditions to kick three majors.
The mid-sized forward, taken at No.55 in last month's NAB AFL Draft, showcased his great athleticism and superb aerial ability before being rested in the second half.
Others to shine included Jarrad McVeigh, Paul Bevan, Henry Playfair (two goals) and Heath Grundy, who had Adam Goodes' measure in the first half before match-ups were shifted.
Players restricted to light training included Daniel Bradshaw, Craig Bolton, Rhyce Shaw, Mark Seaby, Brett Meredith and Josh Kennedy.
All the new draftees, bar Dennis-Lane, also ran laps while the game took place.
But there was no shortage of willing stand-ins when the numbers dwindled in the second half.
Development coach Stuart Dew showed he had lost none of his skill with a couple of searing left-foot passes to Jesse White.
Coach Paul Roos said the spirited hit-out was a good way to end the first half of the pre-season.
"There were some good signs and the good thing is we're pretty fit," he said.
"That's the thing about this pre-season compared to the last five or six. We've got big numbers training and even the guys who aren't training are running.
"Everyone, pretty much to a man, has done a lot of work pre-Christmas and that's the first time in my time here that we've been able to tick that off."
With a strong fitness base now established, Roos said the players would turn their attention to the game-plan when they return in January.
The Swans have exited the NAB Cup in the first round in each of Roos' seven seasons as coach, but it could be a different story in 2010.
"We really want to set ourselves for Blacktown against Carlton and as you can see from today, we're going to have a pretty good team floating around for that game," he said.
"The players are aware that there are a lot of guys training, a lot of new guys who are trying to stake their claim a bit."
The competitive spirit was evident in a number of heated contests despite the low-contact rules, with Paul Bevan particularly strong in his attack on the ball and his opponent.
"The frustrating part was that they couldn't tackle anyone and that's when they start whinging to the umpires, Johnny Blakey and Pete Berbakov," Roos said with a laugh.
