The Sydney Swans will welcome back two key senior cogs in a clash with the Brisbane Lions at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday.
Towering forward Sam Reid and key defender Lewis Melican will return from almost three months on the sidelines each for the Swans’ Round 13 fixture.
Reid (quad) and Melican (hamstring) were struck down by injury in the same passage of play in the senior side’s match with GWS at the SCG in Round 3.
They are now set to be eased back into action on reduced minutes as they prepare to mount toward AFL comebacks ahead of the pointy end of the season.
Young speedster James Bell has been named for a return of his own after injuring a hamstring in the NEAFL side’s clash with Brisbane in Round 2.
Development coach Tadhg Kennelly said the returning stars made for great news.
“It’s exciting to have Reidy and Melican back,” Kennelly said.
“It’s been a long process for them – a long recovery. But we’ll do everything to manage them through the game and be very careful with their game time.
“It’s exciting to have them back as it is with James Bell.”
A host of players vying for AFL selection will also buoy the fourth-placed Swans as they shoot for a seventh-consecutive victory off the back of a bye.
Nic Newman, Dean Towers, Daniel Robinson, Harry Marsh, Robbie Fox and Ryley Stoddart are all eyeing senior recalls, while ruckman Darcy Cameron and defender Colin O’Riordan will be pushing for AFL debuts.
A number of players have this year earned senior call-ups off the back of strong NEAFL form, including lively forward James Rose who fronted up for Sydney’s gripping affair with Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.
The Swans always relish an opportunity to test their might against AFL-listed talent and on Saturday will face the likes of Claye Beams, Ryan Bastinac and Archie Smith.
Kennelly said there was a long list of players knocking on the door for AFL selection.
“There’s a lot of guys that are pushing their case and looking for a debut in Darcy Cameron and Colin O’Riordan,” Kennelly said.
“Nic Newman is playing some really strong football at half-back for us and is really organising the troops down back.
“Dan Robinson is in and out of the team, Harry Marsh is in and out. The senior players are pushing for AFL selection.”
The Lions have their sights set on breaking a four-game losing streak and remaining in firm contention for a finals berth.
Six of the NEAFL’s 10 teams qualify for finals football and the Lions have slipped to sixth on the ladder in their recent run of losses.
They fell to a 35-point defeat to the Giants at the Gabba last Saturday but produced a game full of positives.
They were deadly accurate in front of the sticks in a return of 18.3, while key cogs Beams (31 touches, four goals), Ben Keays (30 possessions, three goals) and Jake Barrett (29 disposals) all fired.
Kennelly said the Swans were set for a massive test.
“They’re playing a really strong brand of football,” Kennelly said.
“They’re playing a contested style which is the right way to play. We’re really looking forward to a hard contest.
“Their ruck department has been really good. Archie Smith has been brilliant in the middle and is a big challenge for Darcy Cameron in the ruck.
“Our on-ballers are going to have a challenge in coming up against Claye Beams and Ryan Bastinac.
“They’ve got these guys that have played a lot of AFL football and played some strong NEAFL footy over the last few weeks.”
Who: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions
Where: Blacktown International Sports Park
When: 12.00pm
Round: 13
Sydney Swans team:
B: 32. James Bell 21. Jack Maibaum 2. Alex Johnson
HB: 6. Jordan Foote 43. Lewis Melican 42. Robbie Fox
C: 45. Angus Styles 41. Jake Brown 31. Harrison Marsh
HF: 22. Dean Towers 34. Jordan Dawson 27. Daniel Robinson
F: 20. Sam Reid 17. Darcy Cameron 33. Ryley Stoddart
Foll: 46. Joel Amartey 28. Nic Newman 38. Colin O’Riordan
Inter: 50. Sam Wicks 51. Connor Flanagan 58. Mitchell Rogers 53. Dominic Soffe 55. Bailey Stewart
Emer: 54. Jeremy Shumack 52. Josh Rayner 49. Matthew Kannan 59. Zac Cameron 48. Luke Parks
In: 32. James Bell 31. Harrison Marsh 43. Lewis Melican 20. Sam Reid 53. Dominic Soffe
Out: 1. James Rose (AFL) 56. Joey Reinhard (Academy) 52. Joshua Stern (Academy) 49. Lach Swaney (Academy) 59. Zac Cameron (Academy)
