The Swans kicked off the new-look 2021 campaign in fine style with a 26-point victory over GWS Giants at Lakeside Oval. Coach Jeremy Laidler provides an update on the each of the players and their performances in the opening match of the season.

"The win was really pleasing, I thought our mindset and intent from the start of the game was spot on and we were able to really squeeze the game and play a majority of it in our half which was really pleasing," he said.

"The best thing was we kicked straight in-front of goal - scoreboard pressure is the best form of pressure and I thought our inside and outside pressure was good as well.

"We had a small lapse in the third quarter but we ended up finishing the game on a positive note."

Please note, the Sydney Swans VFL clash against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday 24 April will not be broadcast on Kayo Sports. Stay tuned to sydneyswans.com.au for all the latest updates on the day.

Colin O'Riordan
33 disposals, 14 marks

"Colin missed last week's game but he came back and produced a really good game. Leadership is a key to his game but it's all about his contest as well. He got that down pat and now it's just about consistency and trying to earn a senior game again.

Lewis Taylor
32 disposals, one goal, three tackles

"He's just working on either side of his game - he's playing a little bit on the wing, little bit inside, and also down forward. It's just about his work rate both sides of the game."

Ryan Clarke
31 disposals, four tackles

"He's just playing a consistent brand of footy. He's always putting his name up for senior footy. It's just about him on his ground balls and being strong over the ball."

James Bell
25 disposals, two goals, six tackles

"He came back from being the emergency sub in Round 4 and he's just hard and clean. His work rate is a key part to his game and he finished with two goals."

Kaiden Brand
24 disposals, 11 marks

"He's just playing some consistent football at the moment. He's going to put a really solid four quarter game together soon and he's putting little pieces together to play some consistent football at the moment."

James Rowbottom
23 disposals, seven tackles

"He came back from three weeks on the sideline. He was really strong in the contest and some of his closing speed to either hurry up the opposition in the midfield and or his tackling pressure was a real highlight"

Jake Bartholomaeus
21 disposals, six marks, two tackles

"He usually plays midfield but he has had to adapt his role to playing on the wing and down forward. He's had a consistent pre-season and it's just about both sides of his game."

Matt Ling
20 disposals, eight marks

"He's playing the small defender. Some of the stuff we have been working on is beating his direct opponent and his offense will come from that."

Barry O'Connor
20 disposals, eight marks

"Barry's performance was really pleasing on the weekend. He is developing his game really strongly and we're just working with him about his starting position and being on his toes and being pro-active."

Mallachy Carruthers
19 disposals, two tackles

"He played a bit higher as a halfback on the weekend and we have been working with him about being proactive and being on his toes, and just defending his man first. Because we know how good of a ball user he is."

Paddy McCartin
19 disposals, nine marks, two tackles

"Paddy was really pleasing. I know it was Round 1 but he played a solid game down back. It was so good to see him going for his marks and being strong in the contest. We had really good reports from the other back six."

Sam Gray
18 disposals, three tackles

"He only played half a game because he was an emergency for the seniors but he was really strong inside in the midfield in the short game he played."

Callum Sinclair
17 disposals, one goal, 34 hit-outs

"He competed against two quality rucks on the weekend. He competed strong around the stoppages and we're just working on stuff around the ground for him"

Harry Morrison
16 disposals, three goals, four marks

"He's working on his work rate both ways and ensuring he provides an outlet when we have the ball on the ground. His pressure and work rate is a key to his game.

Adam Gulden
15 disposals, four tackles

"It was his first game as captain of the club and it's just great to have him on board. He directs everyone out there and is a great steady head. Has great skills on both sides of his game."

Joel Amartey
14 disposals, one goal, five marks

"Joel is just working on consistency with his presence in the air and on the ground. He has to work both ways but when the ball is in his area he is really damaging. 

Darcy Cordell
14 disposals, two goals, six tackles

"He played a consistent game. He is a very light frame but he just has a crack in the contest and gets after the opposition and finished with two goals."

Sam Thorne
13 disposals, one goal

"It's just about hurrying up the opposition when he plays as a small forward, and when he does that, it becomes a real key to his game."

Hayden McLean
12 disposals, three goals, four marks

"He's just about having a presence in the air and then when the ball hits the ground it's about what he does next. He finished with three goals and crashed some really big packs."

Will Gould
11 disposals, two tackles

"He had a really strong game. He was strong in the contest and competed at a high level for four quarters. He needs to back it up and do it consistently to put his name up for senior selection"

Nick Brewer
10 disposals, six marks, four tackles

"He played a different range of positions. It's just about having a quick reaction time to get into good positions but when he gets the ball he uses it really well.

Marc Sheather
10 disposals, one goal, three tackles

"His first half was a real key to his game. His pressure was huge in the first-half but now it's about putting a four quarter effort together."