SYDNEY will bleed his fourth debutante in three weeks. Matthew Ling, the former first round draft, will finally leave injury problems behind and play his first game against Hawthorn on Saturday.
Ling was hyped before the NAB AFL Draft 2017 as a lightning-fast and highly qualified defender, and the Swans pounced when he was still available in 14th place in their first choice.
Since his arrival at the club, the left foot has sustained serious injuries to the toes and Achilles that have paused most of his first two years in Sydney. In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he could only play 16 NEAFL games.
The way Ling found out that he would be short on his debut this Saturday in the SCG is an indication of what he’s been going through since it was drafted and what respect he has earned among the Swans.
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“I came to the team meeting and ‘horse’ [John Longmire] I was talking about a zoom meeting he had about resilience. And then he said I was going to play, “Ling recalled.
“I expected to train and play hard in my first year.
“It didn’t work, but it probably served me well, built up a certain amount of resilience and showed me what it takes to get into the team and play a few games.”
“It was very difficult, but it has now paid off.”
Matthew Ling in action for Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup Grand Final 2017. Picture: AFL photos
Although Ling didn’t show Ling’s pace, clean hands, and silky use of the ball on the field as often as he wanted, he could contribute to the club in other ways.
The St. Mary’s and Geelong Falcons product is known for bringing a lot of energy and positivity every day, even in difficult two years, and has worked closely with the development coaches.
This meant sitting in the coaching box for reserves on match days and sending messages to the players on the field as needed. An experience that Ling will have from now on as it is his turn to be in the park.
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“You get a different perspective when you watch from the trainer box,” he said.
“When you look up, it’s actually pretty good to see the game in a different way. I enjoyed it.”
The 21-year-old will make his debut with a young Swans team that names six other players, ages 21 and under, for the game against Hawthorn and young Gun Oli Florent, who turned 22 this week.
The players Ling is most excited with on Saturday are a sign of the changing of the guard at the Swans.
Instead of the usual names like Buddy, Kennedy, and Parker, Ling said that close friends James Bell and Callum Mills, and former roommates Tom McCartin and Jordan Dawson, who line up in red and white with him, will make the day even more special.
The 184 cm Ling expects to play a small defender role against Hawthorn on Saturday, which could result in him spending time with an established star like Chad Wingard and / or fast striker Darren Minchington, who is currently playing his second game for the Hawks is playing.
In any case, Ling said his focus for the first game was “just to compete.” However, expect more than that from the resilient, running defender.
