Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes and his teammates enjoy a laugh during the team photo. Picture: Mark Evans Source: Herald Sun
THEY might have started their pre-season a month after most of their opposition but the AFL's reigning premiers don't look all that worried.
Swans co-captain Adam Goodes is all smiles as his recovery from a grand final knee injury progresses well and premiership coach John Longmire is confident the professionalism of his players will overcome a short preparation.
"The work had to be done in their break and the players did it," Longmire told The Daily Telegraph.
"We couldn't afford to spend more time working on their fitness when they got back," he said.
The time restrictions affected mostly the Swans' eight-year veterans including Ryan O'Keefe, Rhyce Shaw, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Malceski, Adam Goodes, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jude Bolton, Ted Richards and Marty Mattner.
All of these players trained with the club for only two weeks before Christmas because of the leave provisions negotiated by the Players Association in the collective bargaining agreement.
Add the physical toll of a brutal season finale and the limited time for surgery and recovery and the coaching staff have a major challenge on their hands to be ready for round one.
While Longmire would have liked another month to work with his players, as a former player he understands the importance of time away from the club.
"They needed to have a good break and take some time off," Longmire said. "I believe it's absolutely critical to do what they needed to do; travel and spend time with their families.
"When the training time started they got themselves in good condition."
One of those leading the way again is co-captain McVeigh who again finished in the top five in the very competitive three-kilometre time trial.
"We're ready as we've ever been," McVeigh said. "We've actually caught up to the sessions we had last year.
"We're ready to go, there's probably three or four guys in the rehab group who will come back over the next few weeks," he said.
"We'll have a full squad over the next few weeks."
The level of fitness has meant the Swans have been able to turn their attention to tactics and teamwork in the knowledge the grunt work has already been done.
"We don't have to ask the question are we fit enough because we ran really good times," McVeigh said.
"You can get stuck into the skills straight away which was really good."
Kurt Tippett, who is suspended until the round 13 clash against Port Adelaide, will be looking to make the most of today's intra-club practice match to be held at Lakeside Oval opposite the SCG.
Tippett has moved well and impressed teammates and coaches with his professionalism and hard work.
Goodes is still several weeks away from any form of match practice after completing his first skills session just two weeks ago.
Defenders Mattner and Nick Smith are still recovering from injury as is ruckman Shane Mumford who took a knock to the ankle at training two weeks ago.
The Swans' first NAB Cup match is on February 24 against the GWS Giants and Carlton at Blacktown Olympic Park.
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