Brisbane-born ruckman Tom Hickey returned to the east coast late last week, after being secured by the Sydney Swans in a trade involving an exchange of draft picks with West Coast.
The 29-year-old started pre-season training this week alongside the club’s second-to-fifth-year players, as well as several other senior players, eager to get back to work ahead of the Christmas break.
Having played 102 AFL games for three different clubs in his career Hickey is eager to improve under the guidance of assistant coach Dean Cox, who has left a legacy on their shared former club, West Coast.
“I’ve come back with the young boys to try and meet everyone because I didn’t want to come back in January and start from behind the eight-ball. All the boys have been great and really friendly, and it’s a super welcoming club,” Hickey told SwansTV.
“Cox is probably the best to ever do it in the ruck and his protégé, Nic Naitanui, is not that bad of a player either… I am really looking forward to working with him and figuring out a few ruckmen.”
In his short time at the Swans Hickey has been impressed by the club’s mix of experience and youth, and believes his own experience will enable him to make a valuable contribution.
“It’s a really impressive young group and the older guys are really talented as well… I’m really excited to be a part of that.”
Should Hickey earn a call up for a Swans debut in the red-and-white, he would become the first player to represent AFL clubs in four different states.
He has returned to life on the east coast to be closer to family and is joined by wife Chloe and son Lou.
