The Sydney Swans have finished the pre-season on a high with a resounding 31-point victory over 2010 grand finalists St Kilda at Coffs Harbour’s BCU Stadium tonight.
The Swans started well with Adam Goodes - who played in attack all game - and Lewis Jetta getting them off to a good start with goals in the first five minutes.
Jetta was a standout on the wing, and finished the match with three goals, while Goodes bagged four in a fine performance at centre half forward.
The Swans led at every change and ran out eventual winners 12.12 (84) to St Kilda’s 8.5 (53).
The Swans backline, which went into the match missing Tadhg Kennelly, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Nick Malceski and Craig Bolton through injury, made life difficult for the Saints forwards.
Heath Grundy blanketed Saints centre half forward Nick Riewoldt, and Grundy was well supported by ex-Western Bulldog Andrejs Everitt, Marty Mattner, Ted Richards and Gary Rohan.
Everitt was the Swans highest possession winner with 27 disposals while Kieren Jack also got plenty of the ball and had 23 touches.
The Swans played with 23 players, while the Saints fielded 25, as coach John Longmire tried to simulate some aspects of the new interchange rule that will come into force when the season begins in two weeks time.
Ruckmen Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby rotated in the middle, and rested forward. Seaby looked promising posted near the square and kicked a goal. Jesse White was also used to pinch hit in the ruck.
St Kilda were at close to full strength, missing Justin Koschitzke, Zac Dawson, Adam Schneider and Michael Gardiner from their grand final side.
Longmire like what he saw from his players and praised their defensive efforts across the field.
“The type of footy we played, the pressure skills were very good for four quarters which is what we wanted,’’ Longmire said.
“I thought our defence was really good all over the ground and our back six were very good. Heath Grundy and Andrejs Everitt and Martin Mattner and Ted Richards and Gary Rohan did well and our pressure through our forward half was pretty strong.
“Ben McGlynn and Lewis Jetta did a really good job through there and it was great to get a good solid hitout over four quarters against quality opposition. The defenders had great support with players putting pressure on all over.’’
Goodes, who kicked six goals against Gold Coast last week, continued his fine pre-season and Longmire said he had not seen him in better shape at this time of year.
“Adam , from the moment he started back after his break, after he’d been to Ireland and captained the Australian team, he was probably in the best physical condition I’ve seen at that time of year,’’ Longmire said.
“We want all all of our players to improve and we talk about our young players getting better, but there is no better statement than when a 31-year old dual Brownlow Medallist turns up in great physical condition for the start of the season.’’
Longmire said it had been a deliberate ploy to go in this week with fewer players than allowed under NAB Cup rules. “We went in with a couple less players than the opposition had tonight, deliberately to try to make sure the players got more game time and to try to replicate the new interchange rule,’’ he said.
Longmire said it was pleasing to have played both Collingwood and St Kilda in the pre-season series.
“We know we’ve got to get a lot better if we want to continually beat the best. We’ve been fortunate to play St Kilda and Collingwood which has given us good quality opposition to play against.
“We’re not getting carried away with tonight, we have a couple of weeks to go and we know we’ve got to get better.’’
The only injury concern was Jarred Moore, who hurt his ankle in the final term. Longmire said it was too early to know if the injury was just a rolled ankle or more serious.
The Swans Reserves will play a practice match next Saturday and several players who have missed the pre-season matches, including Tadhg Kennelly, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Daniel Bradshaw, will come under consideration to play in that game.
Longmire believes a number of young players have taken a step forward during the pre-season including Rohan and Byron Sumner, who did some classy things against St Kilda.
“Whether they all get games in round one, I’m not sure but we’ve been able to play younger players and increase the depth of our team that can play in the starting line up so from that point of view it has been a worthwhile exercise.
“It is an important two weeks for us now, we have to make sure we sharpen up and get ready for round one against Melbourne.’’
The Swans goal kickers against St Kilda were Goodes (4), Jetta (3), and singles to Ryan O’Keefe, Mark Seaby, Nick Smith, Ben McGlynn and Jarred Moore.
For the Saints Stephen Milne kicked two, while Riewoldt, McQualter, Cripps, Goddard, Montagna and Smith kicked singles.
Swans 3.4 7.6 10.9 12.12 (84)
St Kilda 2.3 5.4 6.4 8.5 (53)
