AFL IN CAIRNS Young Swans keen to step up and lead
EMERGING Sydney leader Jordan Dawson says it is the responsibility of the Swans’ young core to lead the proud football club into the future.
The Swans got into Cairns late on Saturday night, flying straight from Adelaide after they were beaten by Port on Saturday afternoon.
They had a quick training run at Watsons Oval on Monday morning before their main session on Tuesday at Cazalys.
Ironically for Sydney, it was Cairns Saints junior Charlie Dixon, with four goals, who played a key role in their Round 14 defeat, just hours before they were set to relocate to Far North Queensland for the rest of the 2020 campaign.
The current version of the Swans looks much different to the side that contended for flags a few years ago. Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh have retired, Dan Hannebery is at St Kilda and champion goal-kicker Lance Franklin has struggled to stay on the park.
Dawson, who won the Swans’ most improved player award last season, said it was up to him, Isaac Heeney, Oliver Florent, Callum Mills and Nick Blakey, among others, to take control of the playing squad going forward.
Sydney will not challenge for a top-eight spot this season and will look to build with its youth during its few weeks in Cairns.
“We try and take a bit more responsibility ourselves,” Dawson said. “We have had older guys going out of the side over the last few years, we now need to take ownership of the team.
“With our concentration, if we have lapses, that lets the team down and hopefully we can fast-track our development, which will fast-track it for the team as well.
“We need to pull weight as a young group.
“We need to not those lapses.
“The older guys are leaving so it is up to us now to take more control.”
Reflecting on the loss to Port on Saturday, Dawson said little lapses in the game cost the Swans and he felt they were constantly chasing their tail and let themselves down in the end.
The Swans were no strangers to hub life before this week, being in a biosecurity bubble in Western Australia before making the move across to the Pullman Cairns International on Abbott St.
Swans coach John Longmire said his side was settling in well.
“Hotel is fantastic and we are starting to walk around and get our bearings,” Longmire said.
The 23-year-old Dawson, from South Australia originally, holidayed in Port Douglas as a kid and is hoping the Swans can become FNQ’s team over the next few weeks.
Brother of exciting Swan Oliver Florent, Jai Florent our have plays in AFL Cairns with Port Douglas so there is already some local support for the club.
Sydney and Fremantle will hub in Cairns for the remainder of the home and away season, with the West Australian Dockers set to arrive later this week, after playing Richmond on the Gold Coast on Wednesday evening.
Fremantle flew into the state’s southeast on Sunday and will remain there until after Wednesday’s contest.
The Dockers will play their first Cazalys Stadium clash on Monday.
“It has been pretty good, we have been able to develop different friendships,” Dawson said of the 2020 hub experience.
“The group is getting a lot closer, which has been great for such a young group of guys, like we are.
“We are bonding more, we have three weeks in Cairns now and we are looking forward to settling in, training and playing here and hopefully lots of locals can enjoy the experience.
“Hopefully a few locals can rally behind us and we can finish the season off strong.”
Some Swans players have indicated they may remain in FNQ and holiday post-season, something Dawson said he would consider as well.