The 2015 Regional Grade Premiers have taken the step up in grade to Division Three in the AFL Canberra Competition.

This effectively places the Swans in the top grade of the competition for country based clubs.

This will mean stronger opposition, more competitive games and a chance for players to develop their game against quality opposition.

The Swans have been busy training over preseason, and they were able to put this hard work into practice on the weekend when they played against Division Two side Eastlake.

With a range of unavailabilities due to cricket season and illness, the Swans took a relatively young side across for the game. With the unknown opposition the Swans were looking at implementing their style of play, working on movement of the ball across the ground and setting up defensively to limit the opposition.

Things didn’t look great early as the Swans found themselves two goals down within the first five minutes, and it quickly looked like it was going to be a long day.

The Swans were able to regroup and managed to respond with the next three goals to change the momentum of the game.

Mitch Chapman was dominant up forward and with midfielders Simon Treloar and Bill Reid finding lots of the ball, he was given plenty of opportunities.

The side was starting to gel together with lots of new faces in the squad and there was pleasing signs in the backline with Sam Buchanan, Glenn Currie and Jason MacKinnon linking up well.

Over the next two quarters the teams traded goals with the Swans displaying some great signs heading into the season.

With only 19 players it was inevitable that the Swans would tire and after being within two goals at three quarter time, Eastlake took out the game 87-60.

There were plenty of positives to take from the game with Andrew Mewburn playing a best on ground role in his return to the ruck.

The Swans still have plenty of improvement and will look to improve around the contest and improve their efficiency with the football as often skill errors cost them.

The Swans still have plenty of improvement and will look to improve around the contest and improve their efficiency with the football as often skill errors cost them.

With only a little over a week until the start of the Swans season, they will be looking to work on improving further before the first game, at home, against the Batesmans Bay Seahawks on April 9.

The club would like to encourage spectators to get behind the side this year and thank its sponsors for their continued support. Goodhew Park is on the northern side of Neville St, off Victoria St and parking is available around the ground