Defender Marty Mattner at Sydney Swans training. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: The Daily Telegraph
MARTY Mattner will play his first game since last year's grand final when the Swans take on Port Adelaide today but admits he's left his run late to be ready for round one.
The premiership defender has conceded he's no certainty of being named in the team for Sydney's AFL season opener against the Giants on March 30.
"You always worry about not being there round one but the big picture is where you are at the end of the year," Mattner said.
"You have to pick the best option for you to get through the season.
"Whether that means missing one or two games early in the season to play at the end of the season I think you would take that."
Mattner had an operation on a troublesome hip injury which bothered him through most of last year.
"I will at least need to play a full game next week. If that could happen it would be great.
"I'll see how I pull up from the Port match and then see how much I can play next week."
Fellow defender Nick Smith also plays his first game of the year following knee surgery but is much more confident he'll be ready to go against GWS.
"I'm a little bit underdone but I've done a few preseasons (seven) and that helps," Smith said.
The Swans have looked rusty in their pre-season outings so far, winning just one of their four NAB Cup matches. Both Smith and Mattner are expecting a step up in intensity today.
"We're not to happy with the way we've been going over recent weeks," Smith said. "If we keep on going like we have so far we won't give ourselves a chance.
"We have to get back into good habits."
Mattner acknowledges that the Giants could trouble the Swans if they don't start playing the type of football that got them into the finals last year.
"If we want to play well in round one we have to get moving," Mattner said.
"We need to bring the intensity and competitiveness.
"The stuff we prided ourselves on last year was the contested ball and we haven't brought that to the preseason."
Mitch Morton is another who will have his first run today playing in the reserves match in Sydney.
But John Longmire says the former Tiger is still in the hunt for senior selection for round one.
Ruckman Mike Pyke won't be making the trip to Adelaide this weekend as he and his wife Florencia await the birth of their first child.
The Giants are close to full strength for their final hit-out against St Kilda at Blacktown today with the return of key forwards Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton midfielders Lachie Whitfield and Devon Smith.
Ruckman Jonathon Giles and defender Stephen Gilham are also back along with Will Hoskin-Elliot, who will play his first game of the year.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Rusty Mattner to make a start
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2013/03/rusty-mattner-to-make-start.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Rusty Mattner to make a start
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar