A host of senior-listed players will line up for their first competitive games of the season when they play for the NEAFL Swans on Saturday in the first of three scheduled practice matches.
Overlooked for the Swans’ first two NAB Challenge matches against Port Adelaide and GWS, many will make the most of their missed opportunities in the clash against GWS Reserves at Tom Wills Oval on Saturday.
For Xavier Richards, Harry Marsh, Tyrone Leonardis and Jordan Dawson, who have featured in at least one game of the NAB Challenge, it's an opportunity to impress.
It will also be Rhyce Shaw’s first dress rehearsal as coach.
NEAFL: See when and where the Swans are playing in 2016
The 237-game defender, who made the transition from player to Development Coach during the off-season, is looking forward to applying his new craft as well as seeing what the squad can bring against the western foe.
“It has been a long preseason for some blokes,” Shaw said.
“First opportunity to play against an opposition that’s not us which is fantastic and against our cross-city rivals which is even better.”
With only 10 confirmed senior-listed Swans playing, the rest of the side will be topped up by members of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.
Will Gowers, Lachlan Behagg and Ryan Hebron are among them, just three of a select group from Academy who have trained with the AFL squad over the pre-season to ease the transition to the NEAFL side.
Shaw plans to use Saturday’s hit out as a chance to brush the cobwebs off before the build to up to the opening round ramps up.
Plus, with the opening round of the AFL season only two weeks away, the coaching staff are placing just as much importance on these games as the NAB Challenge series for players vying for senior selection.
NEAFL: Click here to see the full pre-season practice schedule
“I just want the boys to go out and play, that was my message in our final team meeting,” Shaw added.
“There were a few structural things mentioned but the main thing was to just go out there and enjoy themselves.
“We’ve got three games to prepare to for round one. We’ll let them play the first one and take it from there.”
The first bounce at Olympic Park’s Tom Wills Oval on Saturday is scheduled for 10.30am.
The NEAFL Swans will then set their sights on Sydney University on March 19, before finalising their preparations with another hit out against the Giants on March 26 in the lead up to round one.
Shaw will lead the NEAFL Swans across the border to Queensland for an opening round clash with Brisbane at Burpengary on April 2.
Saturday's initial squad:
9. Abe Davis
19. Tom Derickx
30. Tyrone Leonardis
31. Harry Marsh
34. Jordan Dawson
38. Colin O'Riordan
36. Aliir Aliir
42. Xavier Richards
43. Lewis Melican
47. Kyle Galloway
41. Eli Prescott*
44. Jaad Matesic*
48. Will Gowers*
49. Harrison Carr*
50. Sam Wilson*
51. Tom Chichester*
52. Jacob Hennessy*
53. Lachlan Behagg*
54. Ryan Hebron*
55. Ned Reinhard*
56. Jake Veale*
57. Jake Bartholomaeus*
* Denotes member of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy
