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Sydney’s backline will be missing almost 800 games of AFL experience, as they strive to thwart a winless Melbourne side sensing blood and looking to extend the Swans’ SCG woes.
Heading into Thursday night’s game, Sydney (1-2) are marginally better off than Melbourne (0-3), after winning last week away to Carlton.
However, Sydney will be without their 322-game linchpin and backline organiser Jarrad McVeigh, who suffered a quadriceps injury last week and will miss several matches.
With Heath Grundy (back, 256 games) and Nick Smith (hamstring, 211), already on the injury list, the onus will be on Sydney’s younger backs to step up and assist in form key defender and co-captain Dane Rampe.
“There’s a bit more responsibility for Aliir Aliir and Callum Mills, who have really stepped up to the plate the way they’e started the season and have been extremely good,” Swans’ backline coach Tadhg Kennelly told AAP.
“But Macca (McVeigh) is a huge loss with his experience and his ability to help younger players around the park, not just the defence, but the group as a whole.”
At the other end of the field, Swans spearhead Lance Franklin needs to kick four goals to pass Matthew Lloyd (926) and move into seventh spot on the list of all-time leading VFL-AFL goalkickers.
While there’s a question mark over the fitness of Demons key forward Tom McDonald, Kennelly warned Melbourne still had sufficient attacking artillery to trouble Sydney.
“They’ve got some very damaging forwards, (Jake) Melksham knows where the goals are and we know how (Christian) Petracca with his explosiveness and power around goals is extremely dangerous,” Kennelly said.
“We understand the situation when you go deep into the finals, it affects your pre-season and teams can start slow and that’s certainly the case with Melbourne, but they’ve actually played some really good football.
“The midfield group led by (Max) Gawn and the quality of midfield he’s got around, we know that they are coming for blood.”
The Swans lost their first home game against Adelaide and have won just five of their last 13 at the SCG.
If McDonald plays, it will be his 150th game, while Sydney coach John Longmire will notch his 200th match in charge.
Big man Braydon Preuss will make his Demons debut, while 18-year-old midfielder Justin McInerney will log his first appearance for Sydney, who have recalled 248-game veteran Kieren Jack.
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