Jordan Dawson confident Sydney Swans young guns can fill void left by premiership heroes
The rising star voted Sydney’s most promising player says the club’s young guns are ready to step into the sizeable shoes of the premiership heroes who retired at the end of the season.
Sydney
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sydney. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jordan Dawson insists Sydney Swans’ young guns won’t shy away from filling the big shoes vacated by a host of recently retired club legends.
The 22-year-old has made a flying start to pre-season, winning both of the club’s 2km time trials held so far – the second one quicker than the first and featuring almost every member of the squad.
It follows his most promising player award for the 2019 season and armed with the self belief that was missing 12 months ago, he’s ready to take his game to another level in 2020.
He has hit the ground running – literally- the competitive streak in him leaving his teammates trailing in his wake.
“It’s good that everyone is back and I can test myself against those (senior) guys,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“You can’t really hide with a time trial so it’s good to see where everyone’s at. Everyone’s pretty competitive, those no games yet and so it’s nice to get a ‘win; II guess.”
With more than 1000 games of experience having been lost through the retirements of Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh the challenge is to make the transition to a new era as seamless as possible. It’s not something Dawson is shying away from.
“There’s over 1000 games of experience gone. There’s big shoes to fill,” Dawson said.
“A lot of the young guys are pretty driven to take over those shoes and we want to add our own game and style to the team. Everyone’s pretty excited by that.”
Coach John Longmire has praised the young group who started pre-season two weeks earlier than the rest, suggesting that they sense an opportunity that’s there to be grasped.
MORE AFL NEWS:
Fremantle gains second top-10 selection in swap with Melbourne to secure Liam Henry cheaply
Jack Gunston to benefit from Jon Patton’s arrival in Hawks forward line, says Dermott Brereton
Ruckman Todd Goldstein says rising Roos can help club achieve premiership ambitions
Senior Swans join dad-to-be Lance Franklin at pre-season training
Dawson is not only in great physical shape but the difference from 12 months ago is largely in his head.
“I was fit this time last year but wasn’t really confident in whether or not I could have an impact in the senior team,” he said.
“There were a few chats with a couple of the older guys. I spoke to Dane Rampe, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy. They were confident in what I could do. It wasn’t one particular moment or one particular game (where I felt the belief), more a build up of games (Dawson missed only two matches in 2019 and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension).
“I’m confident that I can have an impact now. Now it’s about trying to improve in different areas of my game, be consistent and add a bit of leadership too to take my game to another level.”
From those two weeks into their pre-season work and those just starting, Dawson senses an unspoken determination – individually and collectively.
“We were all very disappointed in how we went last year. I think you can see that from the way that everyone’s come back,” Dawson said. “There were a lot of PB’s in the time trials, everyone’s fit and there’s a serious drive from everyone in the club.
“We’re not holding back and it’s only week one (for a lot of the players).”
Dawson, like Longmire, has been blown away by the condition and mindset of Lance Franklin.
“He’s extremely driven,” Dawson said. Everyone knows what he can do. He just wants to play each week and if he’s out there he’s going to have a serious impact.”