The Sydney Swans will continue making do with their playing side ahead of the clash against Carlton, as more names join the side’s growing injury list following their scrappy win over the weekend.
The Swans clinched a surprise three-point win in the final minute of Saturday’s clash at Marvel Stadium after North Melbourne were penalised for exceeding the number of interchanges.
Despite the jubilation of snapping their four-match losing streak, the Swans’ casualty ward has continued to grow as they prepare to take on the Blues at the SCG on Friday.
The list now features three tall forwards, three tall defenders and two rucks.
“With Paddy (McCartin – concussion), Tommy (McCartin – concussion) and (Dane) Rampe (neck) not playing, there’s three of our starting six from last year that we’ve been without for quite a large part of this year,” Swans coach John Longmire said on Wednesday.
“So we’ve just got to keep making do.
“We’re just going to make do against what we know is two of the best marking power forwards in the competition who are both Coleman medallists.”
Ruckman Peter Ladhams, recently returned from an arm injury, is set for another stint on the sidelines, while key defender Tom McCartin will not face Carlton as he recovers from his second concussion this season.
“It’s going for a bit longer than what we’d hoped,” Longmire said about McCartin.
“He’s doing a bit of exercise. Hopefully he’s able to ramp that up through the bye period and then we’ll see what happens.”
The coach left the door open for ruckman Tom Hickey to make a return from concussion.
Longmire confirmed 202cm ruck Lachlan McAndrew would feature against Carlton after the 22-year-old’s impressive showing against veteran Todd Goldstein last weekend.
“He played on Goldstein last week (who is) the best tap ruckman in the history of the game so he’s learned a fair bit,” Longmire said.
Despite his side’s ongoing injury hits, the coach insisted the Swans will keep pressing forward.
“We still feel like we’re building to get better,” he said.
“It’s always good to get over the line.”
Looking back at narrow defeats to the Giants and Port Adelaide earlier in the season, Longmire said his side “did a lot right in those games”.
“But that feeling you had when the siren goes, you just didn’t get that adrenalin rush the players got last week,” he said.
There was also praise for champion Lance Franklin who came out firing against the Kangaroos, kicking three goals after being held goalless in the two previous games.
“He was fantastic,” Longmire said. “He was probably the best forward on the ground.”
Australian Associated Press