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Swans encroach on league territory
By NIKKI TUGWELL in Newcastle
February 4, 2004
IT was meant to be the Swans' election-style road show rolling into rugby league heartland to preach the AFL word but instead the city of Newcastle handed them a temporary lifeline.
No, Andrews Johns isn't considering a switch to AFL.
The masterful Knights halfback trained with the Swans yesterday but isn't contemplating joining Adam Goodes, Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin in the red and white next season.
The Swans have been without a pre-season training ground as the publicly accessible Lakeside Oval adjacent to the SCG has been ploughed by social groups.
The Swans had scoured Sydney for a suitable grassed facility until finding short-term relief yesterday 160km to the north at the Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground.
"It's quite opportune," Swans coach Paul Roos said.
"We've had a bit of trouble getting on to grounds down in Sydney so it's great to come up here and have this venue to train on. It's the first time we've been on a full-size ground this year. So we can have a couple of really good runs as a team."
The $1 million AFL community camps initiative takes the Swans to the place where houses are painted red and blue but it is nothing to do with Demons. Where their favourite sons are both Johns, not Worsfold, Longmire or Coleman but Andrew and Daniel.
The former steel city, home of the world's best rugby league player, silverchair and Yahoo Serious is the Swans' headquarters until Friday.
They were welcomed with a civic reception at City Hall yesterday before convening a Superclinic with aspiring Novocastrian juniors.
In the suburban tradition, cars surrounded the oval as about 500 schoolchildren and autograph-hunters in mostly Swans, Crows and Bombers kits honed their skills with players. Even a couple of sensitive souls in Collingwood garb lined up for photographs with Nick Davis. Guess it is February. Most stayed for the intercode training session with the Knights.
"It's a big area up here and I'm sure there's a lot of AFL fans as there are rugby league fans," Roos said.
"Newcastle Knights are very strong and we're aware of that. Really since 1996 there's been a real acceptance from league and union."
Wearing an oversized trucker cap, Johns kept a low profile at the back of the group as the teams completed a warm-up lap and Swan Brett Kirk led passing and kicking drills.
"There's no need to compete with the other codes," Swans captain Stuart Maxfield said.
"But the guys can get tackling, footwork tips that are really going to help us in our game. The guys also really enjoy getting out into the community and spreading the word about AFL and the Swans, it's great to be able to do that in the regional areas."
An AFL forum was convened last night for coaches, players and administrators.
The team trains throughout the four-day stopover with the main foray into the community tomorrow when the Swans cavalcade visits Singleton, Port Stephens, Wallsend, Cardiff, Swansea, Belmont, Newcastle City, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast.
The Swans' first trial match is against Essendon at North Sydney Oval on Saturday week.
By NIKKI TUGWELL in Newcastle
February 4, 2004
IT was meant to be the Swans' election-style road show rolling into rugby league heartland to preach the AFL word but instead the city of Newcastle handed them a temporary lifeline.
No, Andrews Johns isn't considering a switch to AFL.
The masterful Knights halfback trained with the Swans yesterday but isn't contemplating joining Adam Goodes, Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin in the red and white next season.
The Swans have been without a pre-season training ground as the publicly accessible Lakeside Oval adjacent to the SCG has been ploughed by social groups.
The Swans had scoured Sydney for a suitable grassed facility until finding short-term relief yesterday 160km to the north at the Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground.
"It's quite opportune," Swans coach Paul Roos said.
"We've had a bit of trouble getting on to grounds down in Sydney so it's great to come up here and have this venue to train on. It's the first time we've been on a full-size ground this year. So we can have a couple of really good runs as a team."
The $1 million AFL community camps initiative takes the Swans to the place where houses are painted red and blue but it is nothing to do with Demons. Where their favourite sons are both Johns, not Worsfold, Longmire or Coleman but Andrew and Daniel.
The former steel city, home of the world's best rugby league player, silverchair and Yahoo Serious is the Swans' headquarters until Friday.
They were welcomed with a civic reception at City Hall yesterday before convening a Superclinic with aspiring Novocastrian juniors.
In the suburban tradition, cars surrounded the oval as about 500 schoolchildren and autograph-hunters in mostly Swans, Crows and Bombers kits honed their skills with players. Even a couple of sensitive souls in Collingwood garb lined up for photographs with Nick Davis. Guess it is February. Most stayed for the intercode training session with the Knights.
"It's a big area up here and I'm sure there's a lot of AFL fans as there are rugby league fans," Roos said.
"Newcastle Knights are very strong and we're aware of that. Really since 1996 there's been a real acceptance from league and union."
Wearing an oversized trucker cap, Johns kept a low profile at the back of the group as the teams completed a warm-up lap and Swan Brett Kirk led passing and kicking drills.
"There's no need to compete with the other codes," Swans captain Stuart Maxfield said.
"But the guys can get tackling, footwork tips that are really going to help us in our game. The guys also really enjoy getting out into the community and spreading the word about AFL and the Swans, it's great to be able to do that in the regional areas."
An AFL forum was convened last night for coaches, players and administrators.
The team trains throughout the four-day stopover with the main foray into the community tomorrow when the Swans cavalcade visits Singleton, Port Stephens, Wallsend, Cardiff, Swansea, Belmont, Newcastle City, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast.
The Swans' first trial match is against Essendon at North Sydney Oval on Saturday week.
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