The Sydney Swans have made just one change to the team for Saturday’s crucial clash against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG, with midfielder Jude Bolton to make his return.
Bolton was a last minute withdrawal from the round 16 match against the Gold Coast, when he suffered a knee injury during the pre-game warm-up.
John Longmire said he was rapt to have a player of Bolton’s experience back in the side.
“He’s missed the last couple of weeks. He is a leader of our footy club, is hard at it and plays a great style of footy,” Longmire said.
“It’s good to have him back in the team and especially with the conditions forecast for Saturday, it will probably suit Jude.”
Bolton returns to the team at the expense of big man Jesse White, who has been named as an emergency alongside Trent Dennis-Lane and Paul Bevan.
Saturday’s match shapes as a crucial one for both Clubs. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five games and are mounting a late season charge for the finals. They sit in twelfth position on the AFL ladder but are just a game-and-a-half behind the eighth-placed Swans.
John Longmire said the importance of the game was clear, but actions would speak louder than words come Saturday.
“We are sitting in the eight now and there is plenty of teams around us really hunting for those spots.
“We need to make sure we get a win on the board and we’re keen to do that, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter how much we talk about it, we need to do it on Saturday and that is our challenge,” he said.
The Swans struggled to match the intensity of Fremantle for the first three quarters of last Sunday’s match, before storming home in the final term.
“We need to take the intensity we showed in the last 25 minutes of last week’s game and do that for four quarters,” Longmire said.
“We’ve got to come with that fierce, relentless way of attacking the footy for four quarters."
That was the message Longmire delivered to members today when they received a special call from the coach.
The recorded message came as the Swans celebrate Member Recognition week this Saturday against the Bulldogs.
“Our members are a critical part of our footy Club and we want to recognise them the best way we can - which is a good effort this week against the Bulldogs.
“I thought that the feeling in the ground during the last quarter against Fremantle was fantastic and we would like to get that feeling and passion again this weekend."
The team to face the Western Bulldogs is:
B: N.Smith, H.Grundy, M.Mattner
HB: T.Kennelly, T.Richards, A.Johnson
C: R.Shaw, K.Jack, J.McVeigh
HF: R.O'Keefe, S.Reid, C.Bird
F: D.Hannebery, L.Roberts-Thomson, J.Kennedy
Foll: S.Mumford, A.Goodes, J.Bolton
I/C: L.Jetta, N.Malceski, B.McGlynn, L.Parker
Emg: P.Bevan, T.Dennis-Lane, J.White
In: J.Bolton
Out: J.White
