Tomorrow night’s match will be the first time the pair will play together, with Tippett set to play his first game since last September.
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn Match Day Information
Going out of the side are Mike Pyke, who will miss the match with a hamstring strain, and Brandon Jack.
Speaking to SwansTV for Centrum Team Selection, John Longmire said the inclusion of the attacking pair provides a real boost for the Swans.
“They haven’t played any footy together, so it’s good to get them both into the team and available,” he said.
“I’m sure the players will get a bit of a lift out of it as well.
“We know they will play more football together and they’ll get better working with each other, and this week is the first start.”
Longmire said Tippett’s return was particularly pleasing, after the key tall was hit by some setbacks early in the season, including knee tendonitis and a cracked rib.
“It was unfortunate for Kurt,” he said.
“We worked hard over the pre-season to get (him) in a position to be able to play, and then had a couple of little setbacks with some tendonitis.
“He got himself right and then played in the reserves a couple of weeks ago and suffered a cracked rib.
“It’s good to finally get him back in the team.
“He looked really good when he played in our reserves game a couple of weeks ago and he’s a big presence in our forward line.
“He’ll give his best and hopefully he can play a role that really helps us in the end.”
Longmire also confirmed that Franklin, who needed to prove his fitness on Wednesday evening, was fit and ready to take on his former side.
“He got through the training session fine and pulled up really well, which is a really good sign for him,” he said.
“He did everything that was required and our medical staff gave him a tick and said he was right to go.
“He’s ready to play.”
Book Tickets – Sydney Swans v Hawthorn
With Pyke ruled out, Longmire said new recruit Tom Derickx would take on the majority of the ruck duties throughout Friday night’s match.
The coach said the team had faith in the 24-year-old, who will line up for just his ninth AFL game in Friday night’s match.
“We know Tom has a big job ahead of him,” he said.
“He did a really good job for us in the second half last week against the Lions and he was really competitive in the ruck.
“He’s got a task ahead of him against two quality ruckman, and we know that, but we feel with the balance in the side at the moment that’s going to be his job, and hopefully he competes really well and gets really good support at ground level, which is the important thing.”
In other team news, Tommy Walsh will play his first match in almost 12 months on Friday afternoon.
Walsh, who suffered a horrific hamstring tear in round ten last season, will line up for the Swans reserves as they take on UWS from 4.10pm in the curtain raiser to tomorrow night’s game.
Hawthorn have been forced to make two changes with Sam Mitchell (hamstring) and Brian Lake (calf) both out of the side that defeated St Kilda by 145 points last weekend.
Kyle Cheney, Ben Stratton and Will Langford all make their returns for the Hawks, while Angus Litherland is the other Hawk to be left out.
Sydney Swans v. Hawthorn
ANZ Stadium
Friday, May 9, 2014
B N.Smith, T.Richards, D.Rampe
HB N.Malceski, H.Grundy, R.Shaw
C D.Hannebery, C.Bird, K.Jack
HF L.Jetta, L.Franklin, B.McGlynn
F H.Cunningham, A.Goodes, L.Parker
Foll T.Derickx, J.Kennedy, J.McVeigh
I/C J.Laidler, J.Lloyd, S.Reid, K.Tippett
Emg B.Jack, L.Roberts-Thomson, D.Towers
In: L.Franklin, K.Tippett
Out: M.Pyke (hamstring), B.Jack
