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By NIKKI TUGWELL
March 26, 2004
PAUL Bevan, great nephew of rugby league legend Brian Bevan, has been rushed into the Swans side to debut against Brisbane tomorrow night.
Bevan received an unexpected call from Swans coach Paul Roos yesterday to join best mate Jarrad McVeigh in a dream double debut at the Gabba.
The Lions yesterday named full forward Alastair Lynch who has been in doubt with a thigh strain. Captain Michael Voss and Justin Leppitsch have also been selected in the squad.
Leppitsch has trained strongly this week after a rehabilitation from a shoulder reconstruction.
Sydney's teen talents progressed through the ranks together, playing alongside one another for the state primary school team and NSW Rams.
"Ever since I was five I've dreamt of playing AFL footy," Bevan said. "Jarrad and me are best friends so it's so good to have this experience with him."
An impressive pre-season put Bevan in contention for a call-up but his summons was sped up when fellow defender Tadgh Kennelly tore cartilage in his knee on Wednesday at training.
Bevan, 19, expected to be listening to the Gabba blockbuster on the radio on the bus with the reserves side heading to Canberra on Saturday night.
Instead he will face the likes of Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis and Simon Black in the preliminary final rematch season opener.
Bevan played rugby league and union when younger and is the great nephew of league legend Brian Bevan, who joined British club Warrington in 1945 from Eastern Suburbs. He scored 834 tries in official matches, 300 more than his nearest rival.
Bevan's dad played second grade for Canterbury.
"I'm the first in my family to play Aussie rules," Bevan said.
"I used to get bagged at school for wearing tight shorts but I didn't care what others thought.
"I enjoyed it so much and just loved playing the game. It really hasn't sunk in yet but Roosy told me when he rang he has got a lot of faith in me.
"He said, 'just keep attacking the footy'.
"I got the news that I was off the rookie list last week and today that I'm playing round one so I'm just over the moon."
McVeigh, 18, has arranged for his brother, star Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh, to fly to Brisbane to give him support and advice before the game.
"Mark is flying up on Saturday so I'll speak to him before the game and he'll have a few words to me," McVeigh said.
"I've been in pretty good form through the pre-season so hopefully I can take it through to Saturday night. It's going to be huge. It's been a dream of mine to play AFL and I get to live that on Saturday night."
McVeigh has bulked up, putting on 5kg, and the pre-season form of the skilful midfielder has revealed a maturity and poise beyond his years.
McVeigh, the No. 5 pick overall and Swans No. 1 in the 2002 draft, believes that his emergence is a result of his experience with the Swans squad and reserves last year. Debuting with Bevan has made McVeigh's occasion extra special.
"Paul rang me straight away and I was just so pleased," McVeigh said. "He came off the rookie list last week and now he has got a game. We can talk and work through it together."
March 26, 2004
PAUL Bevan, great nephew of rugby league legend Brian Bevan, has been rushed into the Swans side to debut against Brisbane tomorrow night.
Bevan received an unexpected call from Swans coach Paul Roos yesterday to join best mate Jarrad McVeigh in a dream double debut at the Gabba.
The Lions yesterday named full forward Alastair Lynch who has been in doubt with a thigh strain. Captain Michael Voss and Justin Leppitsch have also been selected in the squad.
Leppitsch has trained strongly this week after a rehabilitation from a shoulder reconstruction.
Sydney's teen talents progressed through the ranks together, playing alongside one another for the state primary school team and NSW Rams.
"Ever since I was five I've dreamt of playing AFL footy," Bevan said. "Jarrad and me are best friends so it's so good to have this experience with him."
An impressive pre-season put Bevan in contention for a call-up but his summons was sped up when fellow defender Tadgh Kennelly tore cartilage in his knee on Wednesday at training.
Bevan, 19, expected to be listening to the Gabba blockbuster on the radio on the bus with the reserves side heading to Canberra on Saturday night.
Instead he will face the likes of Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis and Simon Black in the preliminary final rematch season opener.
Bevan played rugby league and union when younger and is the great nephew of league legend Brian Bevan, who joined British club Warrington in 1945 from Eastern Suburbs. He scored 834 tries in official matches, 300 more than his nearest rival.
Bevan's dad played second grade for Canterbury.
"I'm the first in my family to play Aussie rules," Bevan said.
"I used to get bagged at school for wearing tight shorts but I didn't care what others thought.
"I enjoyed it so much and just loved playing the game. It really hasn't sunk in yet but Roosy told me when he rang he has got a lot of faith in me.
"He said, 'just keep attacking the footy'.
"I got the news that I was off the rookie list last week and today that I'm playing round one so I'm just over the moon."
McVeigh, 18, has arranged for his brother, star Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh, to fly to Brisbane to give him support and advice before the game.
"Mark is flying up on Saturday so I'll speak to him before the game and he'll have a few words to me," McVeigh said.
"I've been in pretty good form through the pre-season so hopefully I can take it through to Saturday night. It's going to be huge. It's been a dream of mine to play AFL and I get to live that on Saturday night."
McVeigh has bulked up, putting on 5kg, and the pre-season form of the skilful midfielder has revealed a maturity and poise beyond his years.
McVeigh, the No. 5 pick overall and Swans No. 1 in the 2002 draft, believes that his emergence is a result of his experience with the Swans squad and reserves last year. Debuting with Bevan has made McVeigh's occasion extra special.
"Paul rang me straight away and I was just so pleased," McVeigh said. "He came off the rookie list last week and now he has got a game. We can talk and work through it together."
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