The Sydney Swans will play one last game before the mid-season bye battling it out against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Senior coach John Longmire has named his side to take on the Dogs after just two points separated the teams in their 2023 clash. 

Matt Roberts, who was rested in Round 10, will return to the team replacing an injured Robbie Fox. Speaking to Sydney Swans Media Longmire praised the young athlete for his versatility. 

"He comes back into the squad and is a really important player for us. He can play a number of different roles and had a good block of footy until we rested him," the senior coach said. 

Longmire added, "It was to recharge him a bit. He's a young player that's had a big workload and it'll be good to get him back in."

Fox, another versatile player for the Swans, was sidelined in Round 10 after he sustained a shoulder injury late in the third quarter. According to the latest injury update he will see a specialist before determining a return to play timeline. 

Aaron Francis will play his third game of AFL for the 2024 season after he was called in for Round 9 to replace Tom McCartin, who has been recovering from a concussion.

Longmire was asked on the return of McCartin in a press conference earlier this week, and said that despite his return to training, the short week didn't allow enough time to prepare for play. 

"The doctors obviously are taking a conservative approach to it," Longmire told journalists.

"He's been pulling up well. He's been running and training. But as far as the competitive training that he needs to go to that next step, he probably hasn't done enough of it just at this point."

The Swans will face the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night where the team will be looking for a seventh consecutive win. The Dogs come into Round 11 with two strong victories under their belt, including a 27-point triumph over top eight side, GWS. 

Despite enjoying the best start to a season since 1945, the Swans aren't under-estimating an experienced Dogs forward line. 

"We've talked to the players about what they can do, like we do every week," Longmire said during team selection.

"But these guys have got some real threats and we need to be making sure we're really sharp and looking forward to a good contest."

"The support that we've had all over the country this year has been superb," he continued. "Up here in Sydney last week with another sold-out crowd. So we can't wait to get down to Melbourne, and have as many people along to the game as we can."

Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans
Thursday, May 23, 7:30pm AEST
Marvel Stadium

IN: Matt Roberts
OUT: Robbie Fox (injured)

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