Sydney aren’t taking any notice of Mick Malthouse’s flattery and have added yet another speedster to their line-up to counter Carlton’s running ability.
The 13th-placed Blues will start as massive underdogs on Saturday at the SCG against a ladder-leading Sydney striving for a club record-equalling 12th-straight win.
“These are the challenges you love as a coach,” Carlton coach Malthouse said.
He was effusive in his praise of the Swans.
“Without a doubt, they have the strongest and deepest list I’ve seen in football,” Malthouse said.
“My count is 17 or 18 of their players that aren’t playing would fit comfortably into a lot of teams.”
Never comfortable about talking themselves up, the Swans are happy to accept Malthouse’s kudos and kind words, while intent on showing the Blues no kindness on the field.
“A lot of people say a lot of things and we know inside the club what we are all about,” Sydney star Lewis Jetta said.
“It’s very good Mick said that, but to us it’s what we can do on the footy field.
“Just stick to the basics and try and keep winning and focus on this week.”
Jetta was equally matter of fact about the prospect of matching the win streak of the 1918, 1933 and 1935 South Melbourne sides.
“We don’t worry about how much we win, we just worry about this week and Carlton,” Jetta said.
Asked what he expected from the Blues, Jetta said “a lot of running”.
“They have a lot of good runners, good midfielders, so if we can beat them it will go a long way towards winning the game,” he said.
With Dean Towers selected to make his Swans senior debut on Saturday, Sydney will field five players renowned for their speed.
Jetta and Towers will be joined by Harry Cunningham, Brandon Jack and Gary Rohan, with noted speedster Jetta having first-hand experience of the debutant’s pace.
“He (Towers) is quick, he chased me down in the pre-season so that’s saying something,” Jetta said.
“He’s got some toe on him. If I get the ball and I see him in space, I’m going to be the one kicking to him and let him run.”
Towers comes in for injured fellow rookie Zak Jones, while for Carlton, David Ellard and Nick Graham replace the injured Andrew Carrazzo and Troy Menzel.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I've been waiting all season to get a look at Dean Towers and Tim Membrey, to see if they are good enough to make the step up. I can understand Membrey missing with so many forwards to choose from but when Cunningham, Brandon Jack, Jake Lloyd and then Zak Jones were all selected before him, I began to wonder if Towers' "mature age recruit" status (24, I believe ) would count against him. His kicking was a little wayward early on but he has really worked on that. I hope he has a brilliant debut and begins a long career in red and white
Michael huston
Guest
He said Sydney have 17 or 18 players not playing that can't get into the Swans team. How is that not related to their list? Interested to see how Towers goes as well as these supposed speedsters. I've seen more run from the likes of Kieren Jack, Nick Malceski, Rhyce Shaw than I have from Rohan, Jack etc. Whether that's a good thing or not, I don't know. Hopefully those youngsters can find their running shoes soon. Would be handy during September (look at Jetta in 2012)
Bosk
Guest
Gotta love Mick being the master of mind games. Seems pretty obvious he was taking the piss with his comment that this Swans team is the strongest he's seen when he himself has coached a few that were stronger, certainly the 1992 Eagles spring to mind as they were basically a state team. After having a hard slog in the wet over in Perth last week the Swans may be going at less than 100% so I rate Carlton not without a chance in this game.
Jack
Guest
Malthouse was having a crack at cola had nothing to do with list