Young Sydney Swans speedster Matt Ling is making rapid-fire progress in the early days of 2019 on his long and gruelling road back from an injury-riddled first season in red and white.
The 19-year-old Geelong Falcons product signed with the Swans via their first-round selection at the 2017 AFL Draft, but a broken toe would limit the fleet-footed midfielder to just six NEAFL games in 2018.
Ling hadn’t played a NEAFL game since late May when he returned to running in December, but he says he’s now taking big strides in a bid to be ready for Round 1.
“Training has been pretty good this week. I’m back up and running. It had been a while and I’m now getting back into some more fast-paced stuff and ball skills,” Ling told SwansTV.
“It was pretty slow-going when I got back into the running in December – I wasn’t doing much at all. But over the past couple of weeks I’ve really ramped it up, and that’s giving me a lot of confidence to go forward into the season ahead and get started.
“I want to push for selection for Round 1 if I can get back into some solid training and get some good practice games under my belt.”
Ling turned a two-year deal into three before he had even played a game for the Swans.
The left-footer was also establishing himself as an important pillar of Sydney’s NEAFL side, slotting in on a wing and exposing the opposition with his searing pace and neat skills by hand and foot.
Ling admits his injury troubles made his first season at the Swans a challenge, but he says he’s only looking forward as the 2019 campaign draws closer.
“My toe bugged me the whole year – right from January 2018,” Ling said.
“I played six games but was just in pain, so that was pretty frustrating. Then it was pretty slow getting back running after the surgery – that took about six months.
“But I’m on the other side of it now, so there’s a bit of light.”
Ling watched from the stands as a number of exciting youngsters announced themselves to the AFL world in 2018, with close mate Tom McCartin, small forward Ben Ronke, defender Ryley Stoddart and a host of other fresh-faced Swans stamping their impact on the competition.
Ling isn’t fussed about whether he runs out for the AFL side or NEAFL team in 2019 – like McCartin, Ronke and Stoddart, he simply wants to lace up the boots for some footy.
“I just want to get out and play with the boys,” Ling said.
“It’s frustrating not being able to train and get around everyone, so I’m just keen to get into it. I just want to play some footy. That’s my only goal and it’s everyone’s goal. Even if it’s just getting back into the NEAFL, I just want to play.”
