Sheedy and Longmire square off
Swans coach John Longmire and GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy addressed a room full of media at the AFL NSW/ACT offices this week as they prepare their sides for the first round of the NAB Cup at Blacktown International Sportspark this Sunday.
GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy said the side from western Sydney will be ready to go when they face the reigning premiers and a new-look Carlton side under the tutelage of veteran coach Mick Malthouse.
“We’ll be close to full strength, Chad Cornes won’t play, Callan Ward won’t play, but most other players are available,” Sheedy said.
“It’s a very important week for us obviously, to get back into some excitement.
“We haven’t played football for a long time and I think the players are raring to go.”
The GIANTS will unveil two of their top three draft picks from last year, Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Plowman, along with Aidan Corr and former Hawthorn player Stephen Gilham.
They will also welcome back key position player Setanta O’hAilpin after he suffered a serious knee injury in his only appearance last year.
“We’ve got to get these boys out there playing as much as they can for as long as they can,” Sheedy said.
“It’s important we keep our heads down and put up better performances than last year.”
Longmire’s Swans side will field a strong team in their first hit-out since victory in the 2012 Grand Final.
“We’ll probably play half of our team this week that played in the grand final,” Longmire said.
“We’ll also manage to see Brandon Jack play and Xavier Richards play, who are a couple of brothers of current day players, and we’ll give those kids an opportunity along with a number of others to taste what senior AFL footy is all about.
“Ted and Kieren will both play, so if their brothers play it will be their first game together and I’m sure it will be something they wouldn’t have expected so early, but it’s a great story from it.”
Longmire said Brandon, who has impressed this pre-season with his lightning pace, was likely to play in a small forward role this weekend but could not confirm how much time he would spend on field.
“It will only be a small taste of what it’s about and I’m not sure how much game time he’ll get, but it’s a great story for AFL footy to be able to bring players in from the local area.
“He’s come from an amazing background if you consider where their family sits in this state and what Kieren has done for our football club has been fantastic.”
In addition to Jack and Richards, eight new Swans, including draftees Dean Towers, Harry Marsh, Tim Membrey and Matthew Dick, will take the field.
NSW’s top two senior coaches also discussed the future of the game in the state, as the NAB Cup takes footy all across NSW and the ACT in the coming weeks.
“We’re seeing the result of a lot of work over a long time,” Longmire said.
“We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us as a code but through the academies we’re seeing younger kids being engaged more and more.”
“It will only get better having two clubs,” Sheedy said.
“There will be more kids coming through our academies and it will be fantastic for those people who will get to love AFL eventually.”