He was delighted watching Adam Goodes in "amazing" form last Saturday night and more than pleased that Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin have a practice match on their February resume. But Leo Barry knows success in 2008 hinges more on those without the big names.

Barry will make his 2008 debut tomorrow night at Narrandera when the Swans take on Richmond in their penultimate practice match. They meet Brisbane the week after in Canberra, then two weeks later open the season against St Kilda. He was at the Olympic Stadium last Saturday to watch the Swans demolish Port Adelaide in a trial, but it wasn't only the performances of the usual suspects which impressed the co-captain.

"They were a little bit undermanned Port Adelaide, but it really showed everyone was up and going," Barry said. "Goodesy looked amazing for so early in the season, and for Hally and Mick to be playing so early in the year, was great. But hopefully we'll be able to blood a few more of our younger guys again this year. Craig Bird played really well and those sort of kids hopefully are pushing for senior selection when round one comes along."

Barry said it wasn't such a surprise so many youngsters this season had slotted so comfortably into the senior team, and that they were pushing for selection in round one.

"Over the last three years it's been more of a development phase [for the club]," he said. "We haven't had too many changes to our senior team, so it's an opportunity [now] for these young kids to really put their hand up.

"This has been pretty much a refreshing pre-season. We've changed a few players, got new coaching staff, new medical staff, so there's been a lot of tweaks of our list here and there. It's been a real rejuvenation, so in hindsight I guess getting bundled out of the finals early has its positives."

Part of that rejuvenation was the trade of premiership-winning pair Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster to St Kilda. Sydney received Adelaide defender Marty Mattner and Geelong's Henry Playfair, and while Barry conceded losing two members of the 2005 team was difficult, it was what both parties needed.

"Sean and Adam, we played so much footy with them, we played in a premiership team, but they've moved on and they will get their opportunity at St Kilda no doubt.

"Having Marty and Henry - when he gets fit [Playfair has been battled a hamstring injury] - will add a different dimension to our team and particularly having Marty, with the loss of Mal [Nick Malceski to a knee injury], will make huge difference."

As the general of Sydney's defence, Barry said he was again looking forward to another miserly season from his back six, and, while disappointed that Malceski will be missing, he said the addition of Mattner had offset that loss somewhat.

"We've been slow starters over the last few years, but hopefully we can make amends this year and have a good start."