New Camperdown co-coach Neville Swayn backs Magpies' midfield depth

New co-coach Neville Swayn is backing the Magpies’ next generation, led by Riley Arnold, to cover outgoing quartet Phil Carse, Cam Spence, Sam Cunnington and Jesse Gallichan as they strive to better their grand final finish in 2019.

“We’ll look internally to fill those spots and bring some kids in there,” he said.

“They’re the best recruits we can get. We’ve just lost a couple of A-graders but you’d think the B-graders we had last year would take the next step to go to A-graders.

“It just gives them an opportunity.”

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Swayn said Arnold, Charlie Lucas, Matthew Field and the Bone brothers – Lachie and Josh – were all capable of increased midfield minutes at Hampden league level.

“Then we’ve got (experienced trio) Fraser Lucas, Luke Mahony and Luke Clarke who played in there last year,” he said. “We’ve still got big bodies in there.”

Camperdown, which suffered a narrow loss to Koroit in last year’s grand final, has added Timboon Demons’ Bayley Thompson and Andy Hargreaves and regained Liam Darcy from a long-term injury.

Swayn said the Magpies were still on the hunt for any last-minute recruits.

“We’re still looking, I know it’s getting late but you just don’t know what could happen,” he said.

“Blokes could get work, school starts this week, whether there’s new teachers starting at the school (who knows).”

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