Swans big man Naismith makes last-ditch bid for finals spot
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 29
Sydney ruckman Sam Naismith is playing for his finals future this weekend as the Swans look to lock in the remaining piece of their September puzzle.
Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair have received favourable reports on their ankle injuries, setting up a three-way battle for the ruck.
Naismith had been the club's preferred choice until hurting his hip a month ago but is now the third seed with queries about his form and match fitness.
The beanpole ruckman makes his return to competitive football in the NEAFL preliminary final but will need a strong showing to displace either of the incumbents.
"He trained really well on the weekend, he'll play," Swans coach John Longmire said.
"How much of the game I'm not quite sure, but the plan is for him to play this weekend.
"He's missed some footy so he needs to play. It's a very simple decision. He wasn't quite right on the weekend [round 23] if we were to pick him. He didn't train until later on in the week but he trained really well on Saturday.
"So that gives us an opportunity for him to train fully this week and play this weekend and prepare himself the best he can.
Three-into-two ruck conundrum
Peter Lalor
The Australian, Daily Telegraph, August 29
John Longmire has had all manner of headaches this year but possibly the least painful is how to fit three key players into his in-form side for Saturday week’s elimination final against Essendon.
Ruckmen Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair are both expected to be fit despite turning their ankles in the match against Carlton on Saturday. The third tall, Sam Naismith, is also set to return and will play in the NEAFL on the weekend in the hope of pushing one of the other two out.
Dan Hannebery and Tom Papley were both given the last round off to recover from minor injuries and are expected to be in the 22 for the next match at the SCG.
Both Essendon and Sydney have, to a varying degree, risen from the ashes to make it this far.
The Bombers finished last year at the bottom of the AFL ladder after a season when their best players were excluded. The Swans may have finished last year on top of the table, but began this on at its nether reaches, losing six straight matches.
Longmire has coaxed his side into a history-defying final series and is to some extent sitting in clover after playing what were elimination finals for much of the season.
Sydney won in a canter on Saturday despite the mishaps suffered by both ruckmen. “They’ve both pulled up OK, they’re both expected to do a bit of training by the end of the week,” Longmire said.
“They’re both walking around pretty well today.
“Both went over on their ankles but they pulled up quite well. Regardless of whether we had the bye or not, you would expect them to be OK if they were needed. “
Naismith has not played since round 19 against Hawthorn but is a fair chance to force his way in, possibly ahead of Sinclair, depending on how he performs this weekend in the NEAFL.
“He’ll play (the NEAFL game). How much of the game we’re not quite sure,” Longmire said. “He’s missed a bit of footy and he needs to play. He wasn’t quite right (for the Carlton game) ... but he trained well on Saturday."
Hayward's surprise at nomination
Marc McGowan
AFL.com.au, August 28
The blame lies with Tom Papley.
Papley, the second-year Sydney agitator, outed rookie teammate Will Hayward in a post-game interview as coach John Longmire's favourite player.
The term "coach's pet" was even thrown around.
Hayward finds the storyline amusing – insisting he doesn't spend every spare moment in Longmire's office, and mainly deals with development coach Nick Davis and forwards coach Brett Kirk.
"I don't know where that started, but 'Pap' said it in a post-match interview and that blew it up a bit," Hayward told AFL.com.au with a chuckle.
"(Our relationship) is pretty much the same as every other player."
Either way, Hayward is doing something right.
The skinny kid from North Adelaide, taken at No.21 overall in last year's NAB AFL Draft and whose pre-season was delayed by plantar fasciitis in his right foot, has played 17 of the Swans' 22 games.
Hayward had a front-row seat to the 'Buddy Show' on Saturday night, with Lance Franklin booting 10.2 from 25 disposals in Sydney's dismantling of Carlton. There weren't many scraps, but Hayward's three kicks delivered maximum points.
The 18-year-old had one word for Franklin's outburst – "special" – and praised how accommodating the former superstar Hawk was towards him.
The reward from the weekend was two-fold: the Swans booked a home elimination final, and Hayward is the round 23 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
"It feels good and it was pretty surprising, given I had three kicks this week, but it’s nice to receive the nomination," he said.
"But it's not really about that for me, with obviously having a pretty slow start to the year, then to be where we are now. I definitely have moments where I pinch myself, especially considering the likes of the people I play with – we've got a team full of stars."
Hayward's star on the rise
Sam Landsberger
Herald Sun, August 29
Lance Franklin’s teenage sidekick needed only three disposals to secure the final Rising Star nomination for the season.
Will Hayward thought coach John Longmire was joking when told of his Round 23 accolade.
But the No.21 draft pick, who kicked 3.0 from his only three touches in Saturday’s 81-point mauling of Carlton, was rewarded by judges for his excellent debut season.
Hayward, 18, backed Essendon’s No.1 pick Andy McGrath to take out the overall Rising Star award on Friday.
Hayward, who has played 17 games, said he was eagerly learning off Franklin.
“It’s very special to have grown up watching him play, and then be running out with him and him kicking 10 in front of you is incredible,” Hayward said.
“I think (I’m learning about) his football smarts, the way he uses his body and his movement around the ball.
“The way he gets space on his opponents is something I’ve learnt off him and the main thing is the pressure he provides as a key forward.”
Swans' ruck battle heats up ahead of first final
Rob Forsaith
AAP, August 28
THE SELECTION battle between Sydney's ruckmen will heat up at Blacktown Oval of all places, with Sam Naismith to make a timely return from injury on the eve of AFL finals.
The Swans are the AFL's form team, having won 14 of their past 16 matches after a 0-6 start.
But their first-choice side is far from settled ahead of an SCG elimination final against Essendon on Saturday week.
Naismith, Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair have shared the ruck duties during Sydney's transformation from cellar dwellers to premiership contenders.
Tippett and Sinclair rolled their ankles against Carlton in the final round of the regular season.
They've both pulled up well and been cleared of serious injury, with Swans coach John Longmire indicating they'd be fit to play this weekend if there was a game.
Naismith is yet to feature at any level since hurting his hip a month ago.
The 25-year-old will run out with the club's reserves on Saturday, when they host Gold Coast in a NEAFL preliminary final.
"He'll play. How much of the game we're not quite sure," Longmire told reporters on Monday.
"He's missed a bit of footy and he needs to play.
"He wasn't quite right (to be in the mix to face Carlton) ... but he trained well on Saturday.
