Bradshaw-White pairing exciting: Roos
Paul Roos admits it's the biggest turnover of talent since he took over as Sydney coach in 2002, but he's confident the rebuilding phase can be quickly overcome.
Roos says the Swans have had a fantastic off-season, adding former Brisbane Lions full-forward Daniel Bradshaw to their list with pick No.4 in Tuesday's AFL pre-season draft.
The two-time premiership player will be joined in Sydney's new-look forward line by 21-year-old powerhouse Jesse White.
Roos is also confident dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, at 194cm and 96kg, can make a successful transition from star midfielder to running centre half-forward.
"With Goodes, Jesse White and Braddy, it's a pretty good forward line going into 2010," Roos told reporters at the SCG.
The Swans will be without defenders Leo Barry and Jared Crouch (both retired), ruckman Darren Jolly (Collingwood) and key forwards Barry Hall (Western Bulldogs) and Mick O'Loughlin (retired).
But if the roar that went up at Swans training on Tuesday following confirmation of Bradshaw's move is anything to go by, optimism is high.
"When Tadhg (Kennelly, who played Gaelic football in Ireland in 2009) came back, it was huge," Roos added.
"It has been a really significant off-season for the footy club and to get Daniel really tops it off for us."
Roos said the Swans had been surprised to discover that Bradshaw, who has kicked 496 goals in 219 games, was available and out of contract.
"We couldn't get on the phone quick enough to find out what was going on," Roos said.
Bradshaw liked what he heard from Roos and jumped at the chance of a three-year contract.
After six weeks of pre-season training with the Swans, the 31-year-old father of four was relieved to be officially drafted.
"It has been pretty stressful, not knowing definitely until today that I was going to be part of the Swans," Bradshaw told reporters at the SCG.
"You look at the team and you can see a lot of potential.
"I know potential is a dangerous word. They did lose a lot of good players.
"I guess we're stepping into the unknown a little bit with the younger group."
Bradshaw said the 196cm, 105kg White, who kicked 20 goals in 18 games in 2009, had a lot of ability.
The ex-Lion also said Goodes could have a huge impact as a mobile centre half-forward in the style of Brisbane's Jonathan Brown.
Roos said the pre-season cup, not always Sydney's first priority, would be a key phase in their campaign.
"It's really critical, we need to get a good team on the field for round one of that competition to give ourselves a chance to gel as a group," Roos said.
The Swans have taken Henry Playfair as a mature-aged rookie and included Nathan Gordon, Dylan McNeil and Irishman Chris McKaigue as rookie-draft selections.
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