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Wednesday March 29, 2006 The Sydney Swans returned to the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday when they conducted their first training session on the ground since preparing for last year’s Grand Final winning triumph. The Swans’ SCG return marks the countdown to their opening home game of the season against Port Adelaide on April 9 where the club will unfurl its 2005 premiership winning flag in a ceremony which will be treasured by all fans. The premiership winning flag ceremony will commence at 12.30pm – 40 minutes ahead of the opening bounce. It has been 72 years since the Swans last won the AFL flag and the ceremony will feature club legends and heroes. Further details will be announced by the Swans next week. The Swans match with Port will be the club’s biggest regular season match since they moved permanently to Sydney from South Melbourne in the early 1980’s. Swans officials are urging fans to paint the SCG into a sea of red and white. The Swans will get their first chance to impress on Saturday night when they play Essendon at Telstra Dome. Coach Paul Roos acknowledges the Swans will face stiff opposition to retain their title. "This year we want to continue putting a competitive team on the field every game similar to the previous three seasons," Roos said. "The players always give 100 per cent and always play to their potential so that has got to be the key for us this year, to be competitive in every game. "To reproduce what we did last year we have got to get better so we have to strive to get better,” he added. “The players love playing at the SCG and the crowd plays a big part in that. There is nothing better than running out to a packed SCG and all the players certainly get a lift from having every seat in the place full.”
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^ Jude Bolton was the first player to enter the SCG yesterday.
^ The first training run at the SCG.
^ Captain Brett Kirk fronts the Media.