Don't miss any of the news involving the Swans as we bring you everything from the newspapers around the country on Monday, May 2.

Aliir keeps cool head in baptism of fire
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, May 2

WELCOME to the AFL, Aliir Aliir.

Coach John Longmire says the Swans’ nail-biting win over Brisbane was the perfect stress test for his debutant yesterday.

The Sudanese refugee was in the thick of things as Sydney’s defenders were continually challenged in a tense match at the Gabba.

“It was a baptism of fire with such a close game,” Longmire said.

“He did some good things. At one stage we had Zak Jones, Callum Mills and Aliir in the backline together. They are all pretty young and it was a great experience for those boys to be able to hang on and find a way to win.”

Swans defeat Brisbane Lions by three points at Gabba in Round 6
Greg Davis
Courier Mail, May 2

SWANS superstar Lance Franklin was the difference as Sydney held off a brave Brisbane to claim a hard-fought three-point win at the Gabba.

Franklin kicked five goals in slippery conditions to be the match-winner for the visitors who weathered the charge from a fast-finishing Lions.

Brisbane closed to within three points with two minutes left on the clock — after trailing by 22 points at quarter-time — to set up a grandstand finish.

However, Luke Parker’s third goal sealed the four points for the Swans who had to call on all their experience to repel the gutsy Lions.

Swans prevail in tight affair at the Gabba
Andrew Stafford
SMH, May 2

The Swans have ground out a hard-fought win against the Brisbane Lions in wet conditions at the Gabba, prevailing by just three points in a match that remained undecided until the last minute of the game, with Luke Parker, who was enormous with 29 possessions and three goals, finally putting the Lions away.

For three quarters, though, it was Lance Franklin who was pretty much the difference. If there were any lingering doubts, let them be dispelled: Buddy is back, and that's good news for everybody except the Lions today. For AFL fans, the Swans, and Buddy himself – considering his travails last year – it's a joy.

Franklin was on from the beginning. He kicked three goals in the first quarter; the first a regulation affair, the second hammered home from 50 metres with a wet ball, and the third a set kick around the corner from the boundary. He was matched by a newer name in George Hewett, who also kicked three in the first quarter.

Nerves, but a debut Aliir really deserves
Neil Cordy
Sunday Telegraph, May 1

THERE will be plenty of butterflies in Aliir Aliir’s stomach when he runs out at the Gabba today for his first AFL game but he should have confidence knowing he’s had the best possible preparation for his debut.

Like so many before him at the Swans, Aliir has had to work hard for his opportunity to play. Coach John Longmire doesn’t give games away – they have to be earned. The Sudanese refugee has spent two years playing in the reserves, building his fitness, strength, knowledge of the game, and learning the Bloods’ way of playing footy.

George Hewett was taken with pick 32 in the same draft as Aliir (No.44) in 2013 and had to wait two years for his chance in the big time as well.

The South Australian was one of three round one debutants for the Swans including Academy product Callum Mills and the surprise packet of the season, Tom Papley. All three played top quality games and looked comfortable in the highest grade and Hewett believes Aliir should know he has the preparation to perform at his best as well.

“Aliir had a very good season last year and has taken it to another level in 2016,” Hewett told The Sunday Telegraph.

“The thing about today’s game is he knows he doesn’t have to do anything out of the ordinary, he just needs to play his role.”

Hannebery becomes youngest Swan to 150
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, April 30

When you look at Dan Hannebery’s list of achievements it’s hard to imagine he’s still just 25 years-old.

On Sunday at the Gabba he’ll add another when he becomes the youngest Swan to play 150 games.

He’s had plenty of high quality competition for the title from players like Adam Goodes and Jared Crouch who both went on consecutive game streaks which looked like they’d never stop.

Crouch played 194 between 1998 and 2006 and Goodes who played 204 between 1999 and 2007.

But at 25 years and two months he’s comfortably beaten both, Goodes was 25 years and six months when he reached the mark and Crouch was 26 years and four months.

Swans 300-gamer Jude Bolton was another who racked up the games fast reaching 150 at 26 years and three months.

Giving Hannebery the edge over his talented teammates was the early start to his career when he debuted in 2009 he was still at secondary school.

“Paul Roos and John Longmire gave me a bit of a taste of it during year 12 and I’ve been lucky to be part of the side over the last eight years,” Hannebery said.

“I’ve played under some great coaches and with some great leaders and players I look up to as teammates.”

Swans schoolboy recruit Dan Hannebury reaches 150th milestone
Peter Lalor
The Australian, April 30

Dan Hannebery arrived at the Sydney Swans with his name on his schoolbag. He plays his 150th game seven years later with “Hanners” emblazoned on his white boots.

His was the feel-good story of 2009. Studying for his HSC at Xavier College in Melbourne, the teenager came up to Sydney during the term break to play football for the Swans reserves. When school went back his studies were interrupted by a call to say they wanted him to play firsts. Hannebery played the last seven games of the season and has been a constant in the successful side ever since but still remembers those days when he would duck up to Sydney for the weekend.

“It was a unique situation, I suppose,” he admitted yesterday. “Trying to study until Thursday, coming up here to train and play and then flying back down on Sunday for the school week of four days. I had some good friends who were making sure I was pretty grounded going back (to Melbourne).

“I had a lot of help from the club, some mates and some teachers. I just passed, so I was happy the teachers gave me a bit of a leg-up.

“Certainly at the time your focus is on football, you try to study and do your best in that department but in that eight weeks I must say I didn’t have much on my mind apart from trying to play good footy.”

Dan Hannebery joins Adam Goodes and Jared Crouch in Sydney Swans' quick-fire 150 club
David Sygall
SMH, April 30

On the eve of Dan Hannebery becoming the third fastest Swan to reach 150 matches, the player who beat him and Adam Goodes to the mark says the game's increasing speed and intensity will make it significantly harder for players to remain consistently available for selection.

Hannebery will notch up his 150th appearance – and, with it, automatic Swans life membership – when Sydney play Brisbane at the Gabba on Sunday. It will have taken the tough midfielder, whose senior career began while he was still a school student, six years and 287 days to reach. Only Goodes and Jared Crouch took less time.

Goodes, who went on to play 372 games, took six years and 103 days to play 150. Crouch, the 2005 premiership-winning midfielder – whose 194 straight games from debut is a league record – took six years and 84 days to achieve the feat.

Crouch said fewer rotations per match were making the game physically more demanding, testing players' abilities to remain injury-free and fresh. However, he said, those demands were being balanced against improvements in sports science, which could be used to pre-empt injuries and aid recovery.

"It's going to be harder but not impossible," Crouch said when asked if future players could reach 150 games at similar pace.

"You always get the athlete who genetically is very good and physically can handle the demands. But, certainly, with the limited rotation, you have to be a certain type of athlete. The days when anyone can play the game are gone."