Kurt Tippett is confident a strong pre-season will hold him in good stead this year.

The Sydney Swans will ramp up their preparations with an intra-club match on Friday and the 27-year-old, in his third year with the club, believes he is ready to go.
 
Tippett and Dan Hannebery took time out from their busy pre-season schedules to visit Lucas Heights Community School in southern Sydney as part of the Australia Post AFL Community Camp program on Monday.
 
The pair conducted a clinic for a group of boys and girls in years five and six ahead of the Paul Kelly Cup.
 
A persistent knee issue restricted Tippett to 34 goals from 14 games last season, but he is confident the work he has done over the off-season will lead to a more productive 2015.
 
“I’ve been able to train consistently and I feel really confident heading into the intra-club match, the NAB Challenge and into the season that it’s going to be right,” he said.
 
“I think I’ll be managing it (the knee) for a little while.
 
“It’d be nice to say it will never come back and if I get my body in the right shape, have a full year and another good pre-season it might get to that.
 
“I’m feeling good at training, it’s just incredible so I’m really enjoying right now.”

Tippett high-fives the students after a training drill at Lucas Heights Community School during the club's community camp.
 
Tippett said building up strength in the gym had been a big part of his program to date.
 
“I made that my big focus over the off-season – even into the start of this pre-season – putting on some size and some strength and that’s held me in good stead,” he said.
 
“I’ve been trying really hard so hopefully I’ve put on enough size and strength to get me through the season.”
 
Having primarily played as a key forward in his first two seasons at the Swans, the 202-centimetre goal-kicker said he was aiming for a return to the ruck this season with the support of Swans coach John Longmire.
 
“John’s challenged us to be able to play in a number of roles,” he said.           
 
“That for me is playing in the ruck and I’m excited by that opportunity.
 
“To get up on the ball and to be in amongst the action is good at times, and obviously I’ll settle up forward as well.
 
“I can’t wait to play in the intra-club on Friday and get the season started.”
 
The Swans intra-club match will be at Henson Park, Marrickville this Friday at 5.30pm. Entry is free.