The Sydney Swans' decision to send ruckman Kurt Tippett in for surgery on his injured hamstring tendon looks to have been a masterstroke.
Tippett's season looked in danger of ending abruptly when he went down in the Swans' round 12 loss to Greater Western Sydney, and after initially deciding against an operation, the club sought a second opinion that recommended he go under the knife.
Fast forward just over two months and Tippett looks set to return to the field against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena on Saturday.
Coach John Longmire said the star ruckman's rehabilitation had gone perfectly and better than the Swans had dared to hope.
"It was certainly relevant to have the operation when he did, (because) it's allowed him to get back now, rather than waiting until next year," Longmire said.
"We actually put him on the long term injury list with the hope that he'd be up and going (by now), and it was a good thing to do because the temptation might have been there (to select him) last week.
"It gave him an extra week of training which has been quite handy for him."
Given Tippett has missed eight games as well as the Swans' mid-season bye week, Longmire said that the 29-year-old could spent more time inside 50 than in the ruck, or could even play as a permanent key forward against the Kangaroos.
"That’s a consideration for us, but we know he's capable of playing in the ruck," he said.
"He's done enough ruck work at training over the past couple of weeks to be able to play there if required.
"Obviously we know the game is going to be another step up, but he just has to play a role.
"Like all our players, he doesn't have to come out and dominate, it's just about playing a role for the team that helps us be competitive."
Tippett would add serious firepower to a forward line that has kicked 100+ points for the past three weeks, after only managing the feat five times in the first 18 rounds of the season.
Triple Coleman medallist Lance Franklin, along with fellow forwards Isaac Heeney, Gary Rohan, Tom Papley and Xavier Richards, have all hit the scoreboard multiple times in the Swans' easy wins over Fremantle, Port Adelaide and St Kilda, with gun midfielders Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Tom Mitchell also dangerous inside 50.
Longmire said his team's scoring increase was due to multiple factors, but he pointed to the Swans' defence – the league's most miserly backline - as the starting point.
"We really value our transition, and our ability to be able to defend really strongly is a key platform for us, and will continue to be a focus for us," he said.
"Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't get it so right, but that’s what we'll be trying to emphasise.
"The attack is built on the back of a strong defence and that’s always been our attitude."
