Sydney Uni ready for Swans reserves test

By Matt Rossleigh

Sydney Uni is looking ahead to Friday night’s practice match against Sydney Swans reserves as an opportunity to test itself against quality opposition.

The Swans reserves is expected to play a host of senior players in a bid to improve their match fitness, with Marty Mattner and Nick Smith both to receive game time at Lakeside Oval.

2012 Finals Series revelation Mitch Morton will also get a run out from reserves coach Jared Crouch with the Swans Round 1 match against GWS GIANTS just nine days away.

Sydney Uni captain Ryan Silvester says the prospect of playing against such quality opposition will benefit the Students with its first NEAFL match on March 30 against Belconnen.

“Early in the year it’s a really big challenge as they’re all coming off the pre-season, everyone’s usually fit and they don’t have many injuries,” said the Sydney Uni co-captain.

“It’s great for our club to come up against these sorts of players especially our young fellas to see where the standard is and to try and test themselves against these really strong players.”

It will be the second week in a row Sydney Uni will play against strong opposition after last weekend’s 75-point loss in a practice match against UWS GIANTS.

“You tend to come up against some quality players, like last week [against UWS GIANTS] they had Rhys Palmer, Bret Thornton and Setanta O’hAilpin who are all AFL quality players so it’s a massive challenge,” said Silvester.

Sydney Uni’s practice match against Sydney Swans reserves will start from 6.30pm under lights at Lakeside Oval.