Sydney Swans captain Josh Kennedy has been named to play in Sydney Derby XIII.
Kennedy was a late withdrawal from last weekend’s clash with Gold Coast after pulling up sore with a tight quad, an injury cloud which hung over his head throughout the week as coach John Longmire and the fitness staff erred on the side of caution.
But, confirming his return in Centrum Team Selection, Longmire said the durable midfielder completed enough of Thursday’s final training session to prove he’s over the issue and primed for the cross-town clash against GWS at Spotless Stadium.
“He was touch-and-go whether he’d play last week, he was just a little bit too tight on the Saturday so we gave him that extra week,” Longmire said.
“It’s great to have him back in the team, he’s obviously a key player for us particularly around that stoppage area which is so important against the Giants.”
Kennedy will be a big inclusion for what’s a crucial game for both sides.
Sydney are striving for a sixth-straight win, its finals hopes riding on every result from now until the end of the season, while GWS will be keen to hit the winner’s list again following two consecutive draws to retain a top-two spot on the ladder.
Kennedy averages more than 27 disposals against the Giants and is the Swans’ best clearance and contested ball winner this season, a handy weapon to have in defence of GWS’ midfield division in Dylan Shiel, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly which currently rank as the league’s best for clearances.
As Longmire explained, when push comes to shove around the contests on Saturday Kennedy’s importance, alongside fellow midfielders Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery, becomes imperative.
“It’s a real important part in trying to reduce their effectiveness at the stoppages, they’re the best team there is at clearing the ball,” he added.
“We’ve got to make sure our players in that inner layer are nice and strong and hard at it, but also in the outer layers knowing and understanding their roles as well and making sure if the ball is in that 50/50 situation we get our hands on it.”
Kennedy replaces first-year forward Ollie Florent in the final team with Florent, Will Hayward and Jeremy Laidler have been named as emergencies.
Click here to view the full squad.
