When: Friday 17th February, 9am.
Where: Lakeside Oval (Opposite the Swans offices on Driver Avenue)
Please note, there will be no on street parking on Driver Avenue so we suggest using public transport or parking in the Entertainment Quarter car park.
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We know you’re itching to get a glimpse of how your Sydney Swans might line up on the field in 2012, and this Friday is your chance.
The coaches have scheduled a full scale intra-club match where players such as Luke Parker, Gary Rohan, Mike Pyke, and new boys Mitch Morton and Tommy Walsh will be desperate to try to secure a spot in the starting line-up.
Competition is hot for berths in the team to play in the Swans’ first NAB Pre-Season Cup games, against St Kilda and premiers Geelong on Friday February 24 at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
This Friday’s intra-club will be the players’ last big chance to impress and all supporters are invited along to watch the match at Lakeside Oval, opposite the SCG on Driver Ave, starting at 9am.
Midfield coach Leigh Tudor says there will be a fight for positions across the field, but particularly in the forward line and the midfield.
“There are a lot of young guys who’ve been impressive during the pre-season and they’re all wanting spots in the midfield,’’ Tudor said. “Youngsters such as Nathan Gordon, Luke Parker, young rookie Harry Cunningham, and Jordan Lockyer who we picked up in last year’s draft. He’s been playing on the wing during practice and he makes good decisions,’’ Tudor said.
“And of course there’s the older group who are also going well, including Jude, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack, and Benny McGlynn, who’s been spending all his time in the midfield.
“In the ruck Mark Seaby, Mike Pyke and Mummy are all going hard at it and there’s plenty of competition amongst those three.’’
There is also a host of forwards vying for spots in the revamped attack, including Walsh, Sam Reid, Jesse White, Mitch Morton and Pyke, who is working hard to become a valuable second ruck/forward option.
The hour long intra-club game will be played to full NAB Cup rules, including the amended ‘out of bounds rule’ where if you kick or handball it and it goes out of bounds, it’s a free kick to the opposition. That should make for a frenzied pace as the ball stays in play longer.
Tudor said the key was to get solid game time into the players before the season begins in earnest. “They can’t wait to get started and Friday’s game will give us a great chance to get a good look at how we might line-up.’’
If you can’t make it to Lakeside Oval on Friday, we will be posting live updates on Twitter using #swansintra and on our Facebook page. Make sure you ‘Like’ us on Facebook.
