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He played very well on Saturday and deserves an opportunity to play some Senior football.
Monty over the blues
By Nikki Tugwell
February 17, 2004
NOVEMBER was an uncertain time for delisted Swan Amon Buchanan then training with Carlton and not knowing whether he would become a Blue or be redrafted by Sydney.
When you're 21 and have devoted yourself to playing AFL since you can remember, the only thing worse than a season-ending injury is being cut by your club. Both happened within months to Buchanan.
But his weeks in the football wilderness gave him time to clear his head and find the passion he had as a kid growing up in the Geelong region idolising Gary Ablett and Paul Couch in the Cats' famous 1990s era under Malcolm Blight and Gary Ayres.
"Ending up getting delisted at the end of the year, in a way it's helped me," Buchanan said.
"It makes you realise how cut-throat it is and last year ... was a year to forget really."
The small forward cum midfielder nicknamed "Monty" fractured his ankle last season and was sidelined until round five. He played eight reserves games and was named as an emergency in the senior squad in round 13. Then a fortnight later he sustained a season-ending knee injury.
"It was an uncertain time and I went down and trained at Carlton for a couple of weeks," he said.
"Draft day I didn't know what was going to happen. The Swans had told me what they were thinking when they delisted me.
"Clubs keep their cards close to their chest at draft time but they always said they would do their best to get me back on the list but you never really know."
Things did fall into place and Buchanan was redrafted with the third pick (No.45 overall) at the 2003 national AFL draft. A notable performer on the track in the pre-season, his intentions this season were clear in the Swans' hit-out against Essendon on Saturday.
He impressed in the midfield picking up plenty of constructive touches and around goal booting two to be judged the Swans' best and push for selection in Sunday's Wizard Cup opener against Carlton.
Sydney have recruited with the view of replenishing their midfield after the retirements of Daryn Cresswell, Paul Kelly and Wayne Schwass in the past two seasons and with Stuart Maxfield and Paul Williams in their 30s.
Tim Schmidt, Josh Willoughby, Andrew Ericksen and Matthew Davis were drafted this year as future midfield prospects.
The club has indicated Jarrad McVeigh, also impressive against Essendon, will be eased into the midfield rotation this season.
Unearthed Swans Adam Schneider and Lewis Roberts-Thomson have provided the blueprint for the likes of Buchanan who knows his second chance is probably his last at Sydney.
"I'm the fittest I've ever been," Buchanan said. "It's going to be a big year for me. I'm making some changes, have worked hard to have a good pre-season and have got confidence with that to take into the season."
Monty over the blues
By Nikki Tugwell
February 17, 2004
NOVEMBER was an uncertain time for delisted Swan Amon Buchanan then training with Carlton and not knowing whether he would become a Blue or be redrafted by Sydney.
When you're 21 and have devoted yourself to playing AFL since you can remember, the only thing worse than a season-ending injury is being cut by your club. Both happened within months to Buchanan.
But his weeks in the football wilderness gave him time to clear his head and find the passion he had as a kid growing up in the Geelong region idolising Gary Ablett and Paul Couch in the Cats' famous 1990s era under Malcolm Blight and Gary Ayres.
"Ending up getting delisted at the end of the year, in a way it's helped me," Buchanan said.
"It makes you realise how cut-throat it is and last year ... was a year to forget really."
The small forward cum midfielder nicknamed "Monty" fractured his ankle last season and was sidelined until round five. He played eight reserves games and was named as an emergency in the senior squad in round 13. Then a fortnight later he sustained a season-ending knee injury.
"It was an uncertain time and I went down and trained at Carlton for a couple of weeks," he said.
"Draft day I didn't know what was going to happen. The Swans had told me what they were thinking when they delisted me.
"Clubs keep their cards close to their chest at draft time but they always said they would do their best to get me back on the list but you never really know."
Things did fall into place and Buchanan was redrafted with the third pick (No.45 overall) at the 2003 national AFL draft. A notable performer on the track in the pre-season, his intentions this season were clear in the Swans' hit-out against Essendon on Saturday.
He impressed in the midfield picking up plenty of constructive touches and around goal booting two to be judged the Swans' best and push for selection in Sunday's Wizard Cup opener against Carlton.
Sydney have recruited with the view of replenishing their midfield after the retirements of Daryn Cresswell, Paul Kelly and Wayne Schwass in the past two seasons and with Stuart Maxfield and Paul Williams in their 30s.
Tim Schmidt, Josh Willoughby, Andrew Ericksen and Matthew Davis were drafted this year as future midfield prospects.
The club has indicated Jarrad McVeigh, also impressive against Essendon, will be eased into the midfield rotation this season.
Unearthed Swans Adam Schneider and Lewis Roberts-Thomson have provided the blueprint for the likes of Buchanan who knows his second chance is probably his last at Sydney.
"I'm the fittest I've ever been," Buchanan said. "It's going to be a big year for me. I'm making some changes, have worked hard to have a good pre-season and have got confidence with that to take into the season."
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