Kurt Tippett prepares for his first training sessions with the Sydney Swans. Picture: Matt King. Source: Getty Images
KURT Tippett can't relax just yet.
After an incredibly turbulent off-season, the 25-year-old power forward must now overcome another major hurdle before he can settle into his new Sydney home - earning the respect and trust of the most fiercely loyal playing group in the AFL.
Tippett officially became a Swan yesterday after wearing Swans colours and training with teammates for the first time. But he is not one of the boys, yet.
Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said yesterday Tippett still has to prove himself.
"We've got a set of behaviours that we like to live by and we'll go through all that kind of stuff over the next few months," McVeigh said.
"All the boys that come through, you want to earn the respect of your peers and that's what you want out of footy.
"You do that by training hard, doing all the right things and then when game day comes you look after your mate and if Kurt can do that and the other boys can do that they'll get a game."
(Kurt will) earn the players' trust the way he goes about it the next few months
He has not got off to a great start, suspended for the Swans' first 11 matches of the AFL season, including all pre-season matches which will only see him available to debut for the club in round 13 against Port Adelaide on June 22.
Tippett was banned from playing any form of football by the AFL for his involvement in salary cap breaches and draft tampering with former club Adelaide.
However, McVeigh said the club has no trepidation about Tippett's character.
"We see Kurt as a long-term player for us," he said.
"We know the way he plays. We know he trains hard and works hard. We expect that from him. He'll earn the players' trust the way he goes about it the next few months.
"Hopefully, in round 12 or whatever it is that he can get out on the park, he'll have the players trust and we can get on with our business."
Tippett yesterday admitted it has been a difficult few months for him since leaving Adelaide in a messy exit, but vowed to earn the trust of his teammates through determination on the training pitch.
"It's been a long off-season with a few little challenges," he said.
"It's fantastic to be here and meet the players and coaches. I'm looking forward to playing football.
"There was a little bit of time where I guess my future was a little bit unclear, but it's fantastic to be here. I look forward to playing football, settling in, training hard, preparing myself well and earning the guys trust over summer.
"It's been a challenge for myself and my family, but I'm happy to put all that behind me now and I'm really excited to be here in Sydney.
"I've got to come in with a good attitude towards getting better and making sure I'm at my best when I can play."
Tippett has signed only a two-year deal with the club after nominating terms for a two-season deal in the pre-season draft for fear of being plucked by a team he did not want to go to.
However, the Swans will commence talks with Tippett's manager Peter Blucher as early as next month to discuss extending his deal to four years - as the club originally hoped to do.
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