Shepp News |
Former rookie-listed AFL player Jamason Daniels looks set to play his first game in two years for Shepparton Swans on Saturday.
Swans coach Brett Warburton confirmed last night officials at Daniels’ WAFL team Peel Thunder had verbally agreed to clear him to the Goulburn Valley Football League club.
Daniels, 22, faced sitting out the rest of the season if a deal was not reached before Sunday’s clearance deadline.
Swans selectors named Daniels, who spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons on AFL club Western Bulldogs’ rookie list, on the wing for tomorrow’s must-win clash with Mansfield.
‘‘We’ve picked him, but we’re being very careful,’’ Warburton said.
‘‘I’m confident. We’ve agreed to everything and Jamo has agreed and Peel is happy.’’
Daniels, a strong-bodied on-baller, averaged 16 disposals a game for the Thunder’s senior side last season and 17.4 in five appearances this year.
He also played four reserves games, but the last was on May 25.
Daniels has since been home in Shepparton and attended Swans matches each week.
‘‘He loves Perth and it was really good for his footy, but he came home for personal reasons and is living with his mum and sisters and helping out here,’’ Warburton said.
‘‘He wants to continue to play footy and that’s where we come into play and we’ll help him where we can.’’
Daniels spent one season at VFL club Coburg following his Bulldogs delisting and squeezed in one senior match for the Swans.
His return should bolster Warburton’s goal of improving the Swans’ four-quarter performance.
‘‘We feel if we can be consistent over four quarters, our footy is good enough to beat good sides,’’ Warburton said.
‘‘We try not to use the young terminology like we did a couple of years ago.
‘‘We think we’re more experienced now and have that level of concentration required to play four quarters week in and week out that can make a strong club.’’
Warburton said last week’s victory over a persistent Echuca was an example of how far his Swans had come.
