Sydney’s all-star forward line will be broken up for at least two AFL matches due to Kurt Tippett’s knee injury.
But Swans coach John Longmire believes it should not impact on the incredible form of the premiership favourites, who host ladder-leading Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday.
Longmire revealed on Tuesday that Tippett had undergone minor knee surgery and would miss games against the Power and Richmond.
Tippett made a late start to the season due to knee tendonitis then a broken rib, but the four matches he’s played alongside Lance Franklin have been Sydney’s most impressive this year.
Their partnership might have won all the plaudits, but Longmire insisted that each of the Swans’ seven consecutive wins was built on 22 players.
“It’s not about one or two players. It’s above a competitive effort and we’ve got some results off the back of 22 consistent performers playing well every week,” Longmire said.
“Our game has always been about the team, no matter who is playing.
“As soon as we drop away from that, we make ourselves vulnerable.”
Ruckman Mike Pyke has overcome a hamstring injury and is likely to take Tippett’s spot in the side.
“Pykey’s played a lot of quality football in the seniors,” Longmire said of the Canadian-born Pyke, who played 95 minutes in the reserves on the weekend.
“We’ll look at that (who comes in for Tippett). The good thing is we have that option.”
Tippett’s latest setback – which comes after a litany of issues that have restricted him to 16 games with the Swans since leaving Adelaide in 2012 – is minor.
The club expects the 27-year-old will resume running next week.
“He’ll be pushed along pretty quickly, because that’s what our doctor has suggested is the best way to go,” Longmire said.
“Structurally, his knee is fine.
“Our doctor (Nathan Gibbs) suggested that’s not a bad result … give it (cartilage) a bit of a trim and get him back in a couple of weeks.”
The news was better for Ben McGlynn, who suffered a head knock in the Swans’ last-start win over Gold Coast but is expected to tackle the Power.
Longmire admitted his side’s clash with Port would be more special than most regular-season games.
“They’ve got some players in absolute red-hot form,” Longmire said of Port, who have posted eight wins on the trot.
“And we’ve been able to strike a reasonably consistent patch as well. So it does point to what will hopefully be a great contest.”
Sam Reid booted three goals in the Swans’ 35-point victory over the Suns and could spend more time deep in the forward line to help fill the void left by Tippett.
“We expect him to play a versatile role for us … to have that flexibility from a bloke with his speed, size and discipline is really important,” Longmire said.
Maggie
Guest
Perhaps. But his right knee injury last year was caused by an opposition player falling over his leg and this current injury to his left knee is the result of twisting it as he landed in a marking contest. In between he had a cracked rib caused by being kneed in the back in a marking contest. I think it's more likely that AFL is a highly physical game where s.... happens.
Radelaide
Guest
Tippett's had a horrible run with leg injuries since joining the swans, my theory is like when a player who has been out the game for and extended period their body softens up from lack of match hardening and then it becomes one thing after another so maybe that 11 game suspension has affected him more than we thought.
Michael huston
Guest
It makes sense for Reid to take Tippetts place, but I'd actually prefer to see Derickx in the forward role. He's got a good set of hands, and is much stronger, bigger and more skillful than Reid. If Pyke comes back, Derickx being kicked out of the side would be crazy, considering he's proven himself more than Reid. Hopefully Tippetts injury won't turn into another long drawn-out return. He'd be really dangerous if he could just string together at least half a season of consecutive games. The game will be won in the midfield. Ports isn't as prolific as Sydneys, but their skills and forward drive could almost match us, so the Swans half a dozen or so midfielders need to bring their A-game. I'd like to see players like Parker, Jack, Hannebery, Jetta, Kennedy etc kicking goals, and hopefully we won't resort back to the silly long bombs that summarised our first four rounds just because Tippett isn't playing. Whoever wins will (probably) deserve all the credit they'll receive. Hopefully it will also not be a congested slog. Usually when two ultra attacking teams clash, they tend to focus more on stopping the others run rather than focusing on their own. Both teams have kicked that trend though, coincidentally, beating Hawthorn at their own game. Port will need to stop Jack and Kennedy, and Sydney will need to stop Gray. They seem to play pivotal roles in many of their teams victories.