Star recruit Brodie Grundy has impressed in one of his first major league hits in Pelicans colours.
The former Australian pacer was a dominant force around the stops in Sydney's intra-club practice match on Wednesday morning at Coffs Harbour.
From the first bounce, Grundy's agility was evident as he followed through with his powerful movements to find the ball in space and hit the target on the run.
“He has been amazing since he arrived here,” Swansea assistant coach Dean Cox said.
“We know he's a quality rider, he's done it for years. He's done it since he was at the football club.
“He has already built some great, strong relationships and is now looking forward to the weeks leading up to the start of the season where he can continue to build on them.”
The Swans' midfield was split evenly between the two teams as they pitted their full strength in attack and defense against each other.
In the first half, key defender Tom McCarten had a strong impact on the game with his composure with the ball in hand. His physicality in the competition also made it difficult for his main opponent, Joel Amartey, to get into the game.
However, accuracy in front of goal has improved, an issue that plagued the Pelicans for much of last year. Amartey, Isaac Heaney and Hayden McLean all kicked powerful shots into the pocket.
Tom Buble also looked as good as ever, finishing off some powerful passes to score two goals of his own.
Several players on the fringes of Sydney's top 22 also turned up their gear in a bid to show the coaches they should take note of the season opener against the Devils.
Sam Weeks was one of the best players on the floor thanks to his work rate, ability to find a player in space and his defensive efforts. His tenacity was a feature of the Swans' finals last year and he is likely to play an important role again.
With a healthy roster, Aaron Francis may find himself out of the side. But he caught the eye on Wednesday as he played as a main defender and received powerful overhead hits.
Matt Roberts was another who looked more comfortable at senior level, making the most of his opportunity to play at full-back.
“[Roberts] “He's in his third year on our roster right now, and he's been exceptional in the preseason,” Cox said.
“To be able to do it all, I think that's part of year two and three [players]. “To finish the whole pre-season, he has ticked all the boxes and is starting to get some confidence in his game.”
In the wet conditions, ball handling became a priority as Shirin became slippery due to the amount of sunscreen applied.
Angus Sheldrake's clean hands were a feature throughout the game as he attempts to build on his Rising Star nomination last season. He has found plenty of space off the ball and looks set to become a top player at AFL level.
Switching teams also brought the best out of Chad Warner as he dominated the second half with his keen intelligence and football intelligence.
Heaney was another player who saw more possession in the last two periods, and had a greater impact on the game once he got more minutes in midfield.
Of the recruits, Will Green was the most impressed while on the ground. He finished the match with two goals, which was a powerful goal in the attack.
“He has a natural talent,” Cox said. “The one thing you see from young players is that they may not do it consistently, but they stand out in certain aspects of the game and he has done everything he can during this period.
“It has settled in really well, as it did in the early years. The players have created a great environment for them to learn as quickly as possible and taken them under their wing. They are reaping those rewards.”
Another new face in James Gordon had a strong early start but became more of an outlet option as he looked to find a home on the wing.
However, when he had the ball in his hands, he used it cleanly and looked elegant in the counted minutes.
The main positive for the Swans is that they got through the training session injury-free. Sam Reid came off early in the second half pointing towards his left Achilles tendon, but there are no long-term concerns with the key forward ticking all the required boxes as he bids to return to the AFL.
Originally published as Track Watch: New recruit Brodie Grundy shines in Sydney Swans' first major pre-season match simulation
