Pilates and the mentorship of Kurt Tippett have helped Sydney ruckman Sam Naismith achieve a rapid rise this AFL season.Injury and illness stalled his progress after he joined the Swans via the 2013 rookie draft.But the 24-year-old has played the past seven games for the ladder leaders and is shaping as a key to their premiership push.Its not great to come in as a new player and have about three years of injuries set you back. Thats pretty frustrating, Naismith said on Thursday.But Ive learned a lot in that time and the big thing that came out of that was resilience and trying to get my body right to withstand AFL footy.Ive done a lot of stuff with the strength and conditioning guys, off-site training with pilates.Naismith signed a three-year deal with the Swans last year.It was a reasonable show of faith given hed played one game of AFL at that point and struggled to get on the park in 2015 because of glandular fever and a groin injury.Last week was another indication of how the club rates Naismith, who was retained in the Swans 22 ahead of Toby Nankervis following Tippetts return to fitness.Naismith relished the chance to play alongside Tippett.Kurt has been a great help, he said.Even when I havent been playing seniors hes a good voice and his preparation is just something to be admired.Its been great working with him on the field. Its only been one game but hopefully there will be a few more.The Swans face Richmond at the SCG on Saturday, when they hope to secure the minor premiership.Theyre naturally wary given the Tigers have won their past three clashes with Sydney, including Naismiths AFL debut in 2014.Weve come up short against them in the last couple of years ... (winning) is going to be crucial for our spot on the ladder, he said.Naismith, who hails from the NSW country town of Gunnedah, denied he had secured his spot for September.Its a very competitive environment and everyone is pushing for a spot, he said.Weve still got Callum Sinclair to come back. Hopefully Ill stay in but Ill take that as it comes. Authentic Bears Hoodies . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Javon Wims Hoodie . 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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- With a win and some help from Minnesota, 17th-ranked Nebraska will play for a Big Ten title next week.But the Cornhuskers (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten, No. 16 CFP) will have to find a way to beat Iowa on the road Friday without knowing what they have at quarterback.Starter Tommy Armstrong Jr. missed last weeks game with a hamstring injury. Backup Ryker Fyfe broke his non-throwing wrist after helping Nebraska beat Maryland 28-7 in Armstrongs absence. The Huskers third-stringer is Zack Darlington, a wide receiver forced to take practice snaps as a signal-caller so the program can preserve Patrick OBriens redshirt.The hope for Nebraska is that Armstrong will be healthy enough by Friday to give it a go. But hamstrings can be tricky, and facing one of the Big Tens best defenses with a banged up second-stringer wouldnt be easy, either.Well need our best defense for sure. Its going to be physical, Nebraska coach Mike Riley said on Monday. I also think we have to rally offensively and have a nice plan. Well have all the other parts ready to go.Iowa (7-4, 5-3) is set at quarterback with senior C.J. Beathard. But the Hawkeyes had to overcome major issues in the passing game in recent wins over Michigan and Illinois, throwing for just 146 yards in the last two weeks.Iowa survived thanks largely to a revived defense led by star cornerback Desmond King and Josey Jewell , arguably the best linebacker in the Big Ten.For once, weather shouldnt be an issue for this annual late November matchup. But, as usual, defense will likely decide a series in which 28 points or less has been enough to win in four of the last five meetings.Here are some of the keys to follow as the Huskers look to stay alive in the Big Ten West title chase.GO GOPHERS!Even with a win, Nebraska will need Minnesota to beat No. 5 Wisconsin to move onto the championship game next week in Indianapolis.dddddddddddd The Badgers will be at home on Saturday, and theyre 15-point favorites.1,000-YARD HAWKEYES?Iowa running backs Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels Jr. have 861 and 855 yards, respectively, and are in a healthy competition to see which one of them can get to 1,000 first. Thatd be pretty cool if both of us get it. I think one of us probably gets it, Daniels said. I think its doable. But Nebraskas rush defense is stingy, allowing just 130 yards a game.BIG TURNAROUNDAt 9-2, Nebraska already has made a four-win improvement in its regular-season record from last season. With a win over Iowa, the Huskers would join the 1899 and 1961 teams as the only ones to make a five-win improvement from one season to the next.IOWAS DEFENSEThe Hawkeyes havent allowed a point in their last 70 minutes of playing time and are allowing just 18.6 per game, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa has had to lean on its defense because its offense is 121st nationally with just 326.5 yards per game. The objective is having at least one more point than your opponent. Weve been able to do that two weeks in a row, so thats been a real team effort, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.PINK IS FINE FOR BIG REDNebraska had no plans to redecorate Kinnick Stadiums visiting locker room to cover its notorious pink walls. Michigans equipment staff did a makeover before the Wolverines Nov. 12 visit, putting up maize and blue pictures, flags and phrases. Iowa won 14-13.I dont think that that worked out so well for Michigan, Riley said.---AP College Football Writer Eric Olson contributed to this report.---More college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '