Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair has starred in the ruck following the pre-season retirement of Kurt Tippett and season-ending injury to Sam Naismith.

But the Swans are continuing to assess their options in a bid to bolster their ruck stocks. 

Sinclair is serving as the side’s go-to ruckman after he had lined up in the Swans’ forward 50 in 2017 and played as the third-string ruckman behind Tippett and Naismith.

He has faced battle-hardened ruckmen Nic Natanui and Sam Jacobs in the early stages of the season and coach John Longmire said the Swans were aware of the toll it could take.

“We are conscious of that but it’s happening across the competition too,” Longmire said. 

“If you look right across the comp it’s a similar situation for a number of teams where there’s one clear ruckman.

“North Melbourne are another example of that this week. Majak Daw has been playing but he’s been down back as well. 

“It happened last year and it’s happening again this year. Ideally you’d like to be able to share that at some point and it’s something we’ll consider but we’re not one out in that space. There are a number of teams in the same boat." 

Aliir Aliir is striving to unearth his outstanding 2016 form after battling through an injury-riddled 2017 campaign.

The 23-year-old formed part of a rock-solid defence as the Swans powered through to the 2016 grand final but managed just three senior games last season.

He played in Sydney’s seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs in Round 4 and has featured in two of the NEAFL side’s three games this season. 

He collected 17 touches in the reserves’ nine-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns last Saturday and Longmire said he was tracking well.

“Last week was his second game in about nine weeks, so it was good to get another game under his belt,” Longmire said. 

“He played that forward-ruck role for us in the reserves. His second half was certainly pretty solid so we’d like to give him a look at that space in our senior team pretty shortly. We think he can contribute in that area.”

Towering presence Darcy Cameron was arguably the Swans’ best in the Suns clash and could also come into senior calculations during the season. 

The 2016 draftee complemented a Swans-high 27 disposals with 32 hit-outs and a pair of goals.

In the meantime, Sinclair is preparing for a gripping rucking duel with North Melbourne big man Todd Goldstein at the SCG on Saturday.