Pre-season watch: Sydney draftees impress as Dean Cox takes charge as senior coach for first time

One of Sydney’s fresh faces stole the show as the Dean Cox era got underway less than 24 hours after John Longmire stepped down as coach. LACHLAN MCKIRDY was there.

The Dean Cox era officially began at the Sydney Swans on Wednesday morning with players put through their paces in sweltering conditions at Moore Park.

It was the second session of the week for the club’s first to fourth-year players, with several of their high-profile stars also returning to get stuck into pre-season.

Callum Mills was a vocal figure, balancing a combination of match play drills with his own running and conditioning to the side of the main group. The Sydney skipper will have a point to prove in 2025 after missing so much of last season’s campaign but he looks as fit as he ever has and well conditioned to start next year strongly.

Dattoli’s size and leg power looks to have put him in good stead for his first season on an AFL list. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Brodie Grundy was another sweating it out in his pre-second season at the Swans. The ruckman focused on endurance as he joined in on the taxing full-field shuttle runs the players were put through.

Lined up across the goalsquare, there was a sense that Sydney’s strength and conditioning staff wanted to set a standard for the summer ahead. With the temperature surpassing 30 degrees already at 9.30am, they ran in groups to the other set of goalposts and back.

The key message was to make sure they responded positively. “Body language” was repeatedly shouted at the players during their breaks between sprints: “You can be tired, but you can’t look tired.”

Another group of more senior players stood to the side working on their ball skills – Lewis Melican, Robbie Fox, James Jordon and Sam Wicks. The quartet looked sharp by hand and eager to rip into the new campaign.

But as Cox observed much of the session from a distance, watching on in his new position for the first time, the eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to the new faces at the club.

First-round draft pick Jesse Dattoli is an impressive size for a small forward and already has plenty of size. That should put him in a good position to make a case for selection if he is in the frame come February.

Cox imparts some advice on new Swan, Riak Andrew. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Riak Andrew bolted up the draft following an impressive second half of the season for Dandenong and there is certainly plenty of upside. He is still considered a raw talent, but around an experienced Swans defence that will include the likes of Dane Rampe and Tom McCartin, he should develop well.

However, Riley Bice is the standout name among the new recruits. The 24-year-old is fresh off a premiership campaign with Werribee and the Swans are under no illusion that he could play in the opening round against Hawthorn if required.

There’s still a long way to go before the first ball is bounced for Cox as a head coach, but it’s easy to see that he’s inherited a young and hungry squad from John Longmire ready to make amends for their grand final disappointment.