Darcy Cameron’s AFL call-up has presented up-and-coming ruckman-forward Joel Amartey with an enormous opportunity to shine, with the young gun set to take on Sydney’s primary ruck duties at the SCG on Saturday morning.
Amartey has starred as a forward and only pinch-hit in the ruck in his first season in Swans colours, but filling Cameron’s void will see the 18-year-old’s importance to the side skyrocket in Sydney’s clash with the Gold Coast Suns.
Development coach Tadhg Kennelly was all praise for the Sandringham Dragons product ahead of the AFL curtain-raiser.
“He’s been great for us all year,” Kennelly told SwansTV.
“He’s been forward, pinch-hitting in the ruck and last week he did the same thing in tough conditions for a big man.
“He kicked three goals and competed hard in the ruck and he’ll get a good spell in the ruck on Saturday.”
The Swans will welcome back a host of AFL-listed quality as they eye a 10th win in a row in the Round 16 contest.
Veteran defender Heath Grundy has been named to play his first reserves game since 2008, while forwards Gary Rohan and Dan Robinson will also buoy the Swans’ NEAFL side.
Exciting youngster Ryley Stoddart, who made his AFL debut against the Brisbane Lions earlier this season, will bounce back from a two-game lay-off with concussion, while young speedster Angus Styles will return from a shoulder injury.
Midfielders Jordan Dawson, Jordan Foote and Dean Towers will all be out to stake their claims for AFL returns, and the curtain-raiser will allow Swans fans to see defender Alex Johnson in the flesh at the SCG for the first time since early June.
The 26-year-old has played six games since returning from his latest injury setback and will relish the chance to test himself against AFL-listed quality on Saturday.
Kennelly said the Suns would present his players with a giant challenge.
“They’re playing good football,” Kennelly said.
“They’ve got some really good AFL-listed players back. They’ve got a lot of experience and they’re playing a contested brand of football, so they’re playing football the right way.
“It’ll be a fierce battle and that’s the way we like to play our football. They’ll come to play and we’ll also come to play contested football.”
Sydney beat the Northern Territory Thunder by 74 points in Darwin last Saturday night to climb from second to first on the ladder, while the eighth-placed Gold Coast clinched a thrilling two-point victory over GWS at Spotless Stadium.
The Swans and Suns have so far split the chocolates in 2018, with Gold Coast claiming a nine-point win in Round 4 before Sydney hit back with a 67-point victory in Round 11.
It’s created a swell of hype around the ensuing AFL curtain-raiser and Kennelly said the Swans were jumping out of their skin ahead of Saturday’s game.
“It’s very exciting to be back at the SCG,” Kennelly said.
“It’s always good to play an AFL club. We had a great result last week in the Northern Territory and it’s good to be able to come back home and play an AFL curtain-raiser.”
Who: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Where: SCG
When: 10:30am Saturday
Round: 16
Sydney Swans team:
B: 6. Jordan Foote 21. Jack Maibaum 2. Alex Johnson
HB: 34. Jordan Dawson 16. Gary Rohan 56. Joey Reinhard
C: 22. Dean Towers 45. Angus Styles 51. Connor Flanagan
HF: 33. Ryley Stoddart 52. Josh Stern 27. Dan Robinson
F: 55. Bailey Stewart 39. Heath Grundy 58. Mitchell Rogers
Foll: 46. Joel Amartey 32. James Bell 41. Jake Brown
Inter: 54. Lachlan Swaney 49. Cooper Kilpatrick 57. Jack Blair 59. Max Ries 48. Matt Kannen
Emer: 53. Jackson Barling
In: 39. Heath Grundy 16. Gary Rohan 27. Daniel Robinson 33. Ryley Stoddart 45. Angus Styles 54. Lachlan Swaney 57. Jack Blair 48. Matt Kannen
Out: 17. Darcy Cameron (AFL) 47. Toby Pink (injured) 57 Michael Carroll (omitted) 19. Harrison Parker (omitted) 54. Dylan Smith (injured) 48. Sam Thorne (omitted) 59. Kyle Veerhuis (omitted)
New: 39. Heath Grundy 57. Jack Blair
