Young Swan returns to WA to face Dockers
Sydney youngster Trent Dennis-Lane hopes his return to Perth will become a happy homecoming with victory in Saturday's crucial AFL clash with Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
Dennis-Lane played three seasons for WAFL side Subiaco and kicked four goals in the 2009 grand final before being snapped up by the Swans with pick No.55 in the national draft.
The 21-year-old, who has notched three games for the Swans, kicked three goals in last week's 44-point win over Hawthorn but admitted to some apprehension when he first entered the AFL system.
"(The AFL was) pretty daunting to start off with," Dennis-Lane said.
"I had to leave Perth and head over to the other side of the country.
"But I've settled in real nice, my fiance went over with me and it's been real good.
"Swans are a great club, real professional, real clear with what they want you to do. It's been real good my first year in the system.
"I tag along with Jarred Moore everywhere he goes, he's a pretty smart footballer and just trying to absorb as much as I can off him.
"Obviously it's great to come back to Perth in general and to get a game at Subi is an added bonus."
Dennis-Lane hopes fellow Sandgroper Lewis Jetta, who kicked his first AFL goal on the weekend after 19 behinds, had now opened the floodgates.
"I wouldn't know what I would have done if I had kicked 19 behinds in a row. Hopefully he can string a few together and kick 19 straight goals now," Dennis-Lane said.
"He's obviously very exciting to watch.
"I remember when he kicked it I was sitting on the bench and we all launched off the bench and we had to get held back by our team manager just so we didn't step over the interchange mark."
Fremantle recalled 20-year-old ruckman Zac Clarke after Aaron Sandilands was ruled out for his second straight match with a foot injury, while Byron Schammer and Michael Walters also earned call-ups.
Midfielder Rhys Palmer, Justin Bollenhagen and Jay van Berlo were all dropped, while Sydney made no changes.
The match looms as a season-defining game for both sides.
Fremantle sit in fifth spot on the table and will secure a home final with victory.
Sydney are two games further back in seventh place but are still looking to cement their place in the top eight.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.