Swans track watch: Sydney recruit James Jordon stars in early pre-season hit-out

Brodie Grundy was out there and Taylor Adams ran rings around some of his new teammates – but it was another new face who upstaged them all. Get the latest match sim intel.

Sydney’s new recruits have made a big early impression. Picture: Phil Hillyard

New recruits Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams may have received all the attention when joining the Swans, but it’s former Melbourne midfielder James Jordon who has made the biggest early impression in Sydney.

The 23-year-old joined the Swans during free agency after falling out of favour at Melbourne. Despite playing 65 games across the past three seasons, many of those appearances were as a substitute and he struggled for consistent midfield time.

However, he appears to have settled into Sydney life quickly with ‘JJ’ one of the standouts in Friday’s training session.

Jordon was in the middle of everything for the Swans in Friday’s training session. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Spending plenty of time in the middle, Jordon’s speed and silky hands were on display. His kicking was also impressive, finding targets lace out and working hard to be an option across the ground.

His work garnered plenty of praise from his teammates, with many coming to the sidelines talking about how damaging ‘JJ’ was in the match simulation.

While likely on the fringes of Sydney’s best 22 upon joining the side, if he can continue to catch the eye in pre-season it’s likely he’ll force his way into the team for the season opener against his former side on March 7 at the SCG.

Gee wiz JJ 🔥 👀

And the boys knew 🤝 pic.twitter.com/HeZCbIULxP

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) January 19, 2024

HEALTHY LIST COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

This time last year, the Swans were struggling to get through a training session without a player being impacted by injury.

Many of their senior players had little niggles that they carried into the season while key players like Lance Franklin and Tom Hickey were behind schedule.

That won’t be the case in 2024 with nearly a full complement of players in action on Friday.

Callum Mills is still set to be sidelines for the first half of the year, while Lachlan McAndrew is slowly building back into action after his wrist surgery.

Braeden Campbell was on light duties as he overcomes a small complaint but is expected to be back in full training on Monday and was running freely.

Joel Amartey and Sam Reid are both on modified programs with their history of hamstring injuries, but both participated strongly in the match simulations.

Brodie Grundy was being given plenty of competition by Pete Ladhams. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MIDFIELD SPARK

Sydney’s young, talented midfield has always given them a competitive advantage but that looks primed to go to another level in 2024.

There was a noticeable lift in intensity with the way they moved the ball on Friday with even quicker handballs and speed through the corridor.

That shift was led by Adams who was running rings around some of his new teammates early in the session.

Errol Gulden’s work rate again was on show, and somehow, it looks like his engine and motor has gone to another level after a standout 2023 campaign.

There were also great signs for Chad Warner who looks back to his best, finding plenty of pockets of space around the midfield.

Isaac Heeney was also spending more time in the middle third of the ground, acting as great support for the ball winners around him.

On that next tier down, the likes of Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary and Caleb Mitchell were all regularly in the thick of the action.

Taylor Adams looks set to add an electric edge to Sydney’s midfield. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE TALL BRIGADE

Across the ground, the Swans look set up for the next decade as their tall, key position players get prepared for a massive season.

The recruitment of Grundy has provided a massive boost to their ruck stocks, while Pete Ladhams is also in the best shape he’s been since arriving in Sydney.

Ladhams hasn’t hit the heights he wanted too since joining the Swans, but Friday’s session showed he is ready to make sure Grundy earns his spot as Sydney’s No.1 ruckman.

First-round draft pick Will Green is already showing plenty of upside with coaches still shocked at how impressive he looks so early in his career.

Green has bulked up over the Christmas break, while his work rate and stamina across the ground is also eye-catching.

Up front, Hayden McLean’s hands appear to be as strong as ever while the partnership between himself, Amartey and Logan McDonald continues to grow.

Originally published as Swans track watch: Sydney recruit James Jordon stars in early pre-season hit-out