The Sydney Swans are enjoying one of their best pre-season periods to date, with the majority of the playing group participating in a full training program.
 
Club Physiotherapist, Matt Cameron said the number of players engaging in a full training load in November was at a record high.
 
“It is probably a bit of a record - the November group of players training has been the best we’ve had for a while.
 
“In previous years we’ve had a fairly large group of players who’ve had operations, plus older players who’ve required careful management.

"Sometimes that [rehabilitation] group has pushed towards 20 players, whereas the split through November was more like 75 per cent fully training and 25 per cent with some modification. That’s really a symptom of less off-season surgery and an earlier finish to the 2009 season.”
 
Cameron also noted the low rate of injuries sustained by the players throughout the season, nominating this as a key factor in the record return to pre-season training.
 
During their off-season break, the players were under strict instructions to take some time off to allow their bodies to rest and recover. Following this rest period, they were given a structured training program to follow at home, including running, general fitness, and some basic football skills.
 
Cameron said the players returned to the Club from the break in good condition, with about eight players recovering from off-season surgery.
 
Leading into Christmas, the rehab group is made up of only four players - Campbell Heath, Mark Seaby, Josh Kennedy and Kristin Thornton. Each of these players is returning to training following recent injuries or surgery, and all are recovering well.
 
“Apart from Kristin Thornton, the rest of them should be training as one group in January,” Cameron said.
 
The final few players to join the main training group following the Christmas break will be the new draftees, but Cameron has already identified two of the four players as having the experience and strength to take on a full training program even earlier.
 
“Because the rest of the playing group has been training since the end of October, we can’t just throw these younger guys in.

"We need to build up their fitness first of all, otherwise they could not keep up and be at high risk of injury. We take these players a bit slower than the rest,” he said.
 
“Some of the draftees have commenced pre-season training back home and some of them haven’t, so we have to cater for each individual and adjust their programs accordingly.

"Some of them will be joining the main group in January whilst some of them will take a bit longer to get back into it.”