First team regulars Daniel Llyod, Max Mumford & Ryan Coughlan have been called into the Sydney Swans Reserves side to play Eastlake in Saturday’s NEAFL match at Newcastle's No. 1 Sportsground, which commences at 12pm.
The Swans reserves are currently sitting in first place on the NEAFL Eastern Conference ladder while Eastlake is in fourth place.
Each week the Sydney Swans Reserves side requires players from their Academy to 'top up' their Reserve Grade side as the club only has 45 listed players to choose from. Given that the Swans currently have eleven players on their injured list, the number of 'top ups' required this week is quite a few augers well for the local players selected as not only will they get an opportunity to play for the Swans, they can also expect to get reasonable game time.
Black Diamond AFL Operations Manager Garry Burkinshaw said the match will not only be a great spectacle it will also provide local players with a platform to showcase their talents.
“This is fantastic for the local players to be given an opportunity at a higher level without leaving the area,” Burkinshaw said.
"The Swans have shown enormous faith in the young talent in the BDAFL by opting to select local players as opposed to bringing Academy players from Sydney.
“Saturday’s game will provide a great opportunity to test themselves against better opposition and who knows who will be watching or where it may take them?
“Last year Dane Rampe was playing AFL Sydney and this year he’s playing for the Sydney Swans – so he’s the perfect story for the opportunity on offer on the weekend.
“What’s great is that the local players will be so much better for the experience as they’ll learn how to prepare, what’s required to be an elite athlete, how to eat well and they will be exposed to elite players and coaches.
“This is nothing but a positive for our league and the players, plus it’s going to be a fascinating contest to watch with first versus fourth.”
The local players will join their Swans reserves teammates and coaching staff at the team hotel on Friday night and will be involved in all of the team meetings, meals and preparation.
This will be the second time in three years the Swans Reserves have played in Newcastle and Burkinshaw hopes it will be the start of many games to come.
“The Swans reserves played in Newcastle in 2011 which was terrific and in 2005 the Swans senior team played a pre-season game against Collingwood here,” he said.
“Going forward we’d love to have the Swans here for regular pre-season matches and the reserves playing matches at No 1 Sportsground.”
Sydney Swans Reserves v Eastlake
Newcastle No. 1 Sportsground
Match starts at 12pm
Entry - Free
For Sydney Swans reserves news visit www.sydneyswans.com.au
Last Modified on 19/03/2015 16:28