Paul Bevan injures hamstring

[Johnson#26]

Swans hit by Bevan setback
February 09, 2006

AFL premiers Sydney Swans have suffered their first setback of the new year with tough young defender Paul Bevan tearing his hamstring at training.

Despite Bevan's injury, Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said the team is in the best shape heading into a season since Paul Roos took over permanently as coach in 2003.

Only five players from the grand final team underwent surgery in the off-season and in each case it was minor rather than reconstructive surgery.

Last season's best and fairest winner Brett Kirk (elbow), ruckman Darren Jolly (elbow), defender Craig Bolton (knee) and goal sneak Adam Schneider (wrist) all had arthroscopes while midfielder Ben Matthews had a pinched nerve cut out of his foot.

"Our off-season surgical list for key players was the least it's been in a long time," Gibbs said.