NEW SYDNEY Swan Ben McGlynn says the club’s next generation of players is more than capable of sustaining the famed Bloods culture when the current crop of leaders moves on.

McGlynn arrived from Hawthorn during last year’s trade period and it didn’t take long for him to notice differences in the way the two clubs went about their preparation.

Chief among those was the sense of responsibility drummed into each and every player on the Swans’ list, he said.

“They’re a very honest group where you’re responsible for your own actions [and] I think it’s going to go a long way on the footy field," McGlynn said.

“The leadership of Kirky, Bolts and Goodesy is steering the young blokes in the right direction.

“This pre-season has shown that everyone - right from the youngest bloke on the list - has been pushing hard at training and getting the most out of each other.

“If we can carry the Bloods through this season and into the next generation, it will hold us in good stead.”

The club’s culture and Sydney’s summer humidity aren’t the only new aspects of McGlynn’s life as a Swan.

Having made his mark as a midfielder in 44 games at Hawthorn, the 24-year-old is set to spend significant time across half-forward in 2010.

Despite the prospect of a new role, McGlynn said he still had his heart set on earning a place in the Swans’ midfield rotation.

“Everyone likes to kick a few goals, but I’ve been training a fair bit in the midfield as well. Hopefully I can use my fitness in through the middle and up forward,” he said.

“Half-forward’s probably ideal for me. I like to push up and use a bit of run, but I’d like to get into the midfield and cement a spot in there.

“Everyone’s been pushing each other during pre-season and I’m confident that I’ll be able to hold a spot for the year.”

The path presently being trod by McGlynn and fellow newcomers Mark Seaby, Josh Kennedy and Shane Mumford is the same as that blazed by Rhyce Shaw in 2009.

The ex-Magpie was a stunning success last year, finishing second in the Bob Skilton Medal and adding plenty of dash from half-back.

McGlynn said Shaw had gone out of his way to help the club’s new players - all 13 of them, when recruits, draftees and new rookies are taken into account - acclimatise to their surroundings.

“We’ve had four of us [arrive] during the trade period and another five in the draft, so he’s been great for all us,” he said.

“It’s been made a lot easier not being the only new bloke here.”

With less than four weeks until the Swans’ NAB Cup opener against Carlton, McGlynn said he was keen to start repaying the club for allowing his to continue his AFL career for at least another three years.

“Sydney were really the only club that were showing any interest, so I respected that and honoured their faith in me,” he said.

“I’m very happy and hopefully I can give a bit back.”

Ben McGlynn averaged 85 points as a midfielder and forward in last year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.

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