SYDNEY young guns Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney showed their side should be able to fill the hole left by Tom Mitchell in the Swans' two-point loss to North Melbourne at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
Despite the efforts of that pair, the Jack Ziebell-led Kangaroos were able to hold on for the win, 0.9.11 (65) to 0.8.15 (63).
Mills spent his Rising Star year in defence while Heeney was largely a forward, although he did spend more time as an onballer late in the season.
Mills racked up a game-high 29 disposals and was instrumental in Sydney's failed comeback in the last quarter, while Heeney's cleanliness was impressive. His sure hands both in the air and on the ground will be missed from the forward line.
The loss of Heeney will be mitigated by the return of Sam Reid. The big man did not play last year after hamstring and calf injuries but a couple of strong marks in the second quarter showed his value to the Swans.
Kayne Turner also showed he could be one to watch for Roos fans this year when he went up in a marking contest against four Swans defenders, brought the ball to ground and quickly kicked a goal before anyone had the chance to tackle him.
Ultimately though, North's experienced players showed why they will be so important this year.
The Roos worked their way back into the game as Ziebell and Ben Cunnington had an impact at stoppages while Shaun Higgins' class was obvious, save for a set shot that went out on the full in the third quarter.
Speedster Shaun Atley started brightly in his move to the midfield and showed in a couple of passages why he will be a valuable player, winning 24 disposals.
The Swans had the better of the first term, holding North Melbourne goalless. First-round draft selection Oliver Florent impressed with his classy kicking skills.
Stand-in coach Brett Kirk highlighted the performance of Florent and Darcy Cameron as prospects representing the Swans for the first time.
"They both handled themselves really well," Kirk said.
"Darcy competes well and Oliver's got some real speed and run and carry. He's really composed with the ball in his hand."
The Swans gave up the lead for the first time early in the last quarter when recruit Nathan Hrovat showed composure to edge his side ahead. The former Bulldog followed up the effort a couple of minutes later, with his small stature and nous around goal important as the Roos played their first game in many a year with Brent Harvey missing from the list.
Leigh Tudor, coaching in place of Brad Scott, said Hrovat's personality was a bright spark at the club.
"He's pretty polished. He's a smart player, he knows what to do. He's fitted in really well to the group. He's energetic and bubbly and I think we'll see a bit more of him," he said.
Sam Reid (right) attempts to lay a tackle on Sam Gibson. Picture: AFL Photos
WHAT WE LEARNED
Sydney: The Swans just keep on developing young guns. Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney were excellent while Zak Jones' hardness will make it tough for John Longmire not to pick him in the side every week. Darcy Cameron showed potential up forward and could get games early in the season. While Tom Mitchell will be missed, the Swans let him go because they knew they would be able to replace his output, and this game confirmed that view.
North Melbourne: Expectations aren't high for what the Kangaroos can deliver this year but they showed their leaders will need to stand up if they are to be competitive. Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington have to control stoppages if the Roos are to have a chance, while Shaun Higgins needs to stay on the park. His foot skills stood out in this game but with the incoming Nathan Hrovat and Shaun Atley moving to the midfield, there is room for a few others to step up at Arden Street.
Scores are level after Shaun Higgins goals for the Roos. #JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/wvoOVyimIk
— AFL (@AFL) February 19, 2017
NEW FACES
Sydney: The Swans have found one in Oliver Florent. They selected him No. 11 last year and, after an early fumble, he showed excellent skills and booted a couple of goals, including one on the run from the 50m arc. A possible tall forward and back-up ruck option was found in Darcy Cameron. Robbie Fox was a little untidy with his kicking at times but showed composure in the contest. Essendon discard Shaun Edwards spent time in the midfield while Jack Maibaum was relatively quiet.
North Melbourne: After an injury-riddled 2016, Nathan Hrovat looks set to establish a spot with his new side after showing plenty. He will provide a goalkicking option and can also play through the middle. Marley Williams made a couple of errors but should be an effective stopper in the backline. Declan Watson, Nick Larkey and Matthew Taylor did not have a great impact on the game.
The Swans' top pick from the 2016 draft Oliver Florent slots a goal in his first game for the club. #JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/2jVvMJDoZO
— AFL (@AFL) February 19, 2017
NEXT UP
Sydney has a week off before it comes up against rival Greater Western Sydney in a rematch of last year's qualifying final. Arden Street will host a sold-out match between two top-tier sides for the first time since 1985, when the Kangaroos face Hawthorn.
Dan Hannebery goals for the Swans after a brilliant smother. Scores are level mid-way through the last quarter. #JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/5gk49IG2hv
— AFL (@AFL) February 19, 2017
SYDNEY 0.3.4 0.5.6 0.5.12 0.8.15 (63)
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.0.2 0.3.6 0.5.8 0.9.11 (65)
SUPERGOALS
Sydney: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
GOALS
Sydney: Florent 2, Cameron, Kennedy, Robinson, Hannebery, Fox, Foote
North Melbourne: Wood 2, Hrovat 2, Higgins, McDonald, Turner, Mountford, Cunnington
BEST
Sydney: Mills, Heeney, Jones, Hannebery, Hewett
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Higgins, Hrovat, Cunnington, Macmillan, Atley, Preuss
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hay, B Ryan, S Ryan, Stephens
Official crowd: 3,040 at Coffs Harbour International Sports Stadium
North Melbourne has come from behind after trailing at all three changes to defeat Sydney by two points. After quarter time the Kangaroos outscored the Swans by 27 points from turnovers to help create the comeback victory.
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
Zac Jones is the highestranked (111 points) player on the ground. The midfielder has been an important cog in the Sydney engine room with 21 disposals, two clearances, seven forward 50 entries and 511 metres gained.
GOALSwans (Jordan Foote)
In just his second career preseason game, Declan Mountford has kicked his first goal for North Melbourne. Unfortunately for the Kangaroos he has missed his second shot in two minutes from a similar location.
BEHINDKangaroos (Declan Mountford)
GOALKangaroos (Declan Mountford)
North Melbourne InterchangeBraydon Preuss off due to an injury.
BEHINDSwans (Samuel Fisher)
GOALSwans (Robbie Fox)
North Melbourne's muchimproved ball use since quarter time has contributed to an impressive turnaround. This term alone the disposal efficiency of the Kangaroos (80 per cent) has been considerably superior to that of the Swans (60 per cent).
GOALKangaroos (Ben Cunnington)
BEHINDKangaroos (Corey Wagner)
BEHINDKangaroos (Ben McKay)
BEHINDSwans (Nic Newman)
After eight consecutive behinds to Sydney, Dan Hannebury has shown leadership for the Swans by hitting straight back after the Hrovat goals. Four of these behinds came from set shots and four derived from general play.
GOALSwans (Dan Hannebery)
That's two in a row for Nathan Hrovat as the Kangaroos start to edge away. In his first game in the blue and white stripes, the former Bulldog has slotted in nicely with 14 disposals, four inside 50s and now two goals.
GOALKangaroos (Nathan Hrovat)
On the Run (30-40m, Right Side)
BEHINDSwans (Sam Reid)
North Melbourne is in front for the first time today after kicking the last four goals of the game. In this period the Kangaroos have recorded disposal efficiency nine per cent better than the Swans and have kicked three of their majors from intercepts.
GOALKangaroos (Nathan Hrovat)
Q4 is now underway.
Both teams were wasteful in the third term, with Sydney keeping the door ajar for North Melbourne with six behinds for the term. The Kangaroos managed two majors to pull the margin back to just four points at threequarter time.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
BEHINDSwans (Shaun Edwards)
BEHINDKangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
Jamie Macmillan has recorded six kicks this quarter and now has gamehighs in disposals (22) and metres gained (369). In 2016 he averaged 397 metres gained per game, which ranked him 2nd at his club and 40th in the league.
BEHINDSwans (Shaun Edwards)
Sydney Swans InterchangeDan Hannebery replaces Josh P. Kennedy due to the blood rule.
North Melbourne InterchangeMason Wood off due to an injury.
BEHINDSwans (Sam Reid)
BEHINDSwans (Isaac Heeney)
Only Callum Mills (18) has recorded more disposals than teammate George Hewett (17), however Hewett has missed a set shot with just his third kick. In 2016 he recorded a kickhandball ratio of 0.90 across his 24 games.
BEHINDSwans (George Hewett)
North Melbourne has been more clinical with ball in hand this term. Both teams have won four clearances and seven intercepts a piece, however 78 per cent of the Kangaroos' disposals have been effective compared to just 55 per cent by the Swans.
GOALKangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
BEHINDKangaroos (Mason Wood)
BEHINDSwans (Harry Cunningham)
Sydney Swans InterchangeColin O'Riordan off due to an injury.
Through the ruck work of Preuss and stoppage work led by Cunnington and Ziebell, North Melbourne has won five more clearances than Sydney. The Kangaroos have now scored 2.3 (15) from 20 clearances compared to four behinds from Sydney's 15 clearances.
GOALKangaroos (Luke McDonald)
Braydon Preuss has showed promising signs in the ruck for the Kangaroos in the absence of Goldstein. He won 15 hitouts in the first half (four to advantage) up against Tippett and Cameron, as well as three clearances, six disposals and a contested mark.
Q3 is now underway.
The Kangaroos jumped the Swans in the second term with the first seven forward 50 entries, resulting in 2.4 (16), to cut the margin to four points. Sydney then steadied and take a 12point lead to half time.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
GOALKangaroos (Mason Wood)
Callum Mills is impressing with run and carry off halfback. Mills has recorded game-highs in kicks (11) and metres gained (269). He has rebounded from defensive 50 on five occasions and been involved in four of Sydney's scoring possession chains.
BEHINDSwans (Callum Mills)
Darcy Cameron has kicked his first goal in the red and white, converting after a contested mark inside 50. The Swans have taken five contested marks compared to just one by the Kangaroos.
GOALSwans (Darcy Cameron)
Sydney has been particularly damaging from its 12 forward half intercepts, recording now its fourth goal from the resulting possession chains. North Melbourne have won 14 forward half intercepts for a return of nine points.
GOALSwans (Daniel Robinson)
BEHINDSwans (Luke Parker)
North Melbourne has completely owned the play this quarter and have capitalised with its second goal. The Kangaroos have entered 50 on seven occasions and have scored on six occasions. The Swans are yet to enter their forward 50 zone.
GOALKangaroos (Kayne Turner)
BEHINDKangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
North Melbourne has made all the play early in the second quarter, with all three clearances and all four forward 50 entries. The ball has been inside the Kangaroos' forward half for 92 per cent of the first five minutes.
BEHINDKangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
BEHINDKangaroos (Jarrad Waite)
The Kangaroos are on the board in 2017 in the early stages of the second quarter with Mason Wood capitalising on dropped mark by Harrison Marsh. Last season Wood kicked 12 goals in eight games for North Melbourne, both careerhighs.
GOALKangaroos (Mason Wood)
BEHINDKangaroos (Ben Cunnington)
Q2 is now underway.
Sydney was able to control possession and territory in the first term and lead by 20 points at the first change. The Swans won 21 more uncontested possessions than than the Kangaroos and had the play in their forward half for 62 per cent of the quarter.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
Sydney's forward press is causing problems for North Melbourne, with the Kangaroos finding it difficult to transition out of defence. The Swans have already won six forward half intercepts and have converted three directly into goals.
GOALSwans (Oliver Florent)
BEHINDSwans (Darcy Cameron)
BEHINDKangaroos (Jamie Macmillan)
Sydney has controlled field position in the first term with 10 forward 50 entries, compared to just the two of North Melbourne. Last season the Swans averaged 3.3 more inside 50s per game than their opposition (ranked 7th).
GOALSwans (Josh P. Kennedy)
BEHINDSwans (Callum Mills)
BEHINDSwans (Rushed)
The skill level by foot in the early stages has left a little to be desired. Sydney has recorded kicking efficiency of 46 per cent, while only 38 per cent of North Melbourne's kicks have been effective. Last season the league average was 66 per cent.
Oliver Florent has made a bright start in his first match at this level. The 11th selection in the 2016 National Draft has already won four disposals, taking the ball inside 50 on two occasions. Florent has kicked the first major of the game on the run.
GOALSwans (Oliver Florent)
North Melbourne has won the past four clearances of the match, with Ben Cunnington (two) leading the way. Last season Cunnington averaged 5.7 clearances per game, the highest at his club and ranked 16th in the league.
BEHINDKangaroos (Braydon Preuss)
BEHINDSwans (Kurt Tippett)
Q1 is now underway.
North Melbourne started 2016 with a bang, winning its first nine games before slumping to win only three of its final 14 matches. The Kangaroos averaged 14 points per game from centre bounce clearances (ranked 2nd), 5 points more than their opposition.
Last season Sydney led the Bulldogs at half time in the grand final, before losing by 22 points. The Swans were a strong team in 2016, restricting their opponents to just 69 points a game (ranked first) while they averaged 98 points themselves.
Sydney and North Melbourne have met in 12 preseason matches stretching back to 1956. The Kangaroos have won eight of these encounters, however the Swans were victors by 17 points last time they played in 2012.
Welcome to Coffs Harbour International Sports Stadium for the Sydney Swans v North Melbourne Round 1 clash.