Sydney coach John Longmire insists the shock absence of the Western Bulldogs’ All-Australian ruckman Will Minson won’t force a re-think of his gameplan for Sunday’s AFL clash.
Minson has been dropped for the game at Etihad Stadium where a win for the Swans will all but shore up a top-two spot.
Tom Campbell will now take on the Bulldogs’ No.1 ruck role against Mike Pyke.
“It doesn’t really change things,” Longmire said of Minson’s absence.
“We’ve got Pykey ready to go this week.
“Tom Campbell actually kicked a few goals against us last year so we’ll be mindful of that.”
With both Josh Kennedy (hamstring) and Craig Bird (knee) out this week, midfielder Tom Mitchell, who’s had an injury-interrupted season, is likely to make a long-awaited comeback.
Mitchell has not played a senior game in over four months with his last outing against North Melbourne in round four.
“Obviously he’s an inside midfielder and we’ve lost a couple,” Longmire said.
“It could be an opportunity for Tom if he’s selected in the team. He’s had an interrupted season to date.
“We know that he’s an elite contested ball player and we’re playing a team that’s extremely good at the first possessions and clearances.”
Kennedy’s absence ends a run of 127 straight games – the longest current streak in the AFL.
But Longmire expected Kennedy and Bird to both return for the final home and away round against Richmond.
The Swans go into the Bulldogs clash boosted by an impressive away record, having only lost one game outside Sydney this season to reigning premiers Hawthorn.
But Longmire is anticipating a tough encounter.
“They’re a few very good clearance team, I think they’re number two in the competition around the ball as far as first possession. They’re a very good tackling team,” said.
“It’s an important game for us. There’s ple
Don Freo
Guest
That's first round for Zak Jones?...O'Keefe doesn't count...wouldn't get a game, even at Melbourne. Third round or fourth round? maybe.
Michael huston
Guest
That could work, but I'm always iffy about top draft picks, especially considering Sydney have such a great record with lower draft picks becoming important players. I think a ruck is what we need. We have tall defenders in Richards, Grundy, Rampe and Laidler, who can all hold their own in one-on-one contests, as well as athletic defenders in Shaw, Malceski, Biggs and Johnson. Although I have a feeling a few of them will be absent in the next two years. But imagine if we had a great ruckman. Our midfield would become that much more dangerous. We've survived without Mumford, but at the same time, the midfield isn't the best it can be. Look at a case of Stefan Martin from Brisbane. He was a no-hoper, but he's since been monumental in the center. I know we have Derickx, Nankervis and Naismith coming through, but when you look at our team, the only weakness appears to be in the middle. And I don't rate Frawley, although he could become a gem. Who knows!
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I agree Michael; I'd love to have seen Nankervis be given a taste of the big time, but I'll settle for having Mitchell back in - I feel he should be primed for a huge game, to make a statement that he deserves a senior birth. I also agree that this game is far from in the books. We should win, and easily, but I rate the Doggies as a team on the rise and we wouldn't want to take them for granted. One of the most pleasing things for me this season has been the number of new faces or relatively inexperienced players we've put game time into. Deryckx, Towers, Lloyd, Biggs, Jones, Membrey, Brandon Jack have all had a change to develop. With Isaac Heeney coming in 2015 and Jake Dunkley in 2016 - both of whom having now had the experience as top ups for the reserves - our midfield shows no signs of weakening in coming years. Michael, in another thread I made the suggestion of trading Ryan O'Keefe and Zak Jones to Melbourne in return for one of their first round picks, and use it to go get the best young tall defender in the draft. What do you think?
Michael huston
Guest
This may have been the ideal game to get some seniors footy in Toby Nankervis pre-finals. I'd imagine Picken would go to Hannebery or Jack, unless they try to do what most teams have done lately and put a tag on Malceski (good luck with that). With Kennedy, Bird and McGlynn out, that still leaves McVeigh, Jack, Hannebery, Parker, Mitchell, Lloyd, Jetta etc. which is still superior to the Bulldogs midfield. It's the type of game where an upset wouldn't be surprising, but it really shouldn't happen...