Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Andrejs Everitt will make their return from calf injuries after being named in the Swans reserves team for tomorrow’s semi-final against Ainslie at Manuka Oval.
Roberts-Thomson returns after missing the last two weeks with a calf strain, while Everitt has overcome a deep calf injury and will take to the field for the first time since the reserves lost to the Gold Coast Suns on July 9.
Nick Malceski, who was a late withdrawal from last Saturday’s senior side with soreness, will also play after making it through training this week.
After kicking five goals from the midfield in his last reserves outing, Brett Meredith will return to the side after featuring for the seniors last Saturday.
The Swans will field a fully senior-listed forward line, with the in-form Jarred Moore and the Conference’s leading goalkicker, Trent Dennis-Lane, likely to be crucial off the half-forward flanks.
Mark Seaby and Mike Pyke both stretched Ainslie in last week’s meeting, and with the addition of Roberts-Thomson, the Swans will boast three key talls who are able to rotate between the ruck and forward line. With perfect weather predicted for Canberra tomorrow, the big men are set to play key roles.
A win over Ainslie tomorrow will see the Swans progress directly to the Eastern Conference final at Manuka Oval on Saturday September 17. A loss will mean they will have to qualify for the Conference final through next Saturday’s preliminary final against either the GWS Giants or Eastlake.
NEAFL Eastern Confernce 2nd Semi Final
Sydney Swans Reserves v Ainslie
Saturday September 3, 2pm
Manuka Oval, Canberra
B: T.Wales J.Lynch N.Guthrie
HB: N.Malceski P.Bevan S.Wray
C: J.Potter K.Murphy L.Jetta
HF: T.Dennis-Lane A.Everitt J.Moore
F: M.Seaby L.Roberts-Thomson J.Lamb
Rucks: M.Pyke B.Meredith N.Gordon
Inter. (from): C.Heath A.Moody M.Crawford N.Kenny M.May
