Sydney speedster Gary Rohan will boost the Swans in a clash with the Brisbane Lions at South Pine Sports Complex in Queensland on Saturday.
The forward will play his first NEAFL game since Round 11, 2017 after being omitted from the senior side, while a host of other players on the brink of AFL selection will also buoy the Swans as they push for three wins on the trot.
Dan Robinson will join Rohan on the half-forward line, while Robbie Fox, Matt Ling and Dean Towers will cover the midfield.
Irishman Colin O’Riordan will continue to push his case for an AFL debut as he works with in-form defenders Nic Newman and Aliir Aliir at half-back, while Darcy Cameron will battle Lions big man Archie Smith in the ruck.
Development coach Tadhg Kennelly said it was important the senior cogs put their best foot forward in the reserves competition.
“You want them to set the standard for the rest of the team in the NEAFL,” Kennelly said.
“With those players coming in and out of the senior team you’re looking for a response.
“Dan Robinson was great last week, Dean Towers was great last week and Darcy Cameron is playing some really solid football. He’s had a strong block of football against some really good ruckmen.
“Colin O’Riordan hasn’t played a bad game this year to tell you the truth.
“It’s all starting to come together because of the senior players playing consistent football – that allows the younger players to jump on board.”
Exciting small forward Adam Tipungwuti will return for the Swans after kicking three goals on NEAFL debut against the Giants in Round 6, while a number of QBE Sydney Swans Academy stars will miss the clash.
Draft-bound Academy members Nick Blakey, Joey Reinhard, Josh Stern and Kyle McKellar will all miss the trip north after being named in a 50-man Allies’ squad set to play in the AFL Under-18 Championships.
Harry Marsh has earned an AFL recall, while Ryley Stoddart will make his senior debut after playing four games in the NEAFL in his first season in Swans colours.
Sydney was winless after its four opening NEAFL games but struck back with a 31-point win over GWS in Round 6 and an 88-point victory over Southport last Saturday.
Robinson, Newman and Cameron were the best of the lot in Round 7 and earned eight NEAFL MVP votes each for their efforts, while Fox collected three and O’Riordan one.
Robinson, who has played two AFL games and three NEAFL matches this year, gathered a game-high 40 possessions, while Newman (two AFL, four NEAFL) collected 34 touches and two goals.
Cameron was faced with a colossal task in meeting Southport giant Fraser Thurlow in the ruck, but the 22-year-old finished with 35 hit-outs to Thurlow’s 29.
Cameron also bagged a pair of goals and recorded 19 disposals.
Sydney is placed eighth with two wins and four losses to its name ahead of Round 8 and Kennelly says the Swans have “built a lot of confidence” off the back of back-to-back victories.
But he is under no illusion the Lions will be hard to stop.
“Brisbane are a super team and are in some fantastic form,” Kennelly said.
“They have a very healthy list and are playing a really good brand of football.
“Their seniors had their first win of the season on the weekend and the club must be on a bit of a wave at the moment.
“They will make for a really good challenge for our younger players."
The Lions are the reigning premiers and sit in second behind Sydney University.
They have won five games and lost one and are flying off the back of a 66-point win over Redland on Sunday.
They secured a 50-point win over the Swans when the two sides last met in Round 2.
Brisbane (59.2) is topping inside 50s per game after the opening seven rounds and big-bodied midfielder Tom Bell (six) is leading the way.
But Kennelly said he backed the Swans’ defence to negate the efficiency of the Lions' forward 50 entries.
“Jack Maibaum has been fantastic in his one-on-ones all year,” Kennelly said.
“Aliir Aliir is back there and Colin O’Riordan too.
“We’re confident in the back six that they can organise and get things done.
“But it’s a number you don’t want getting too high in conceding inside 50s.”
Team:
B: 51. Conor Flanagan 21. Jack Maibaum 58. Mitchell Rogers
HB: 38. Colin O’Riordan 36. Aliir Aliir 28. Nic Newman
C: 22. Dean Towers 45. Angus Styles 59. Luke Parks
HF: 27. Dan Robinson 16. Gary Rohan 1. James Rose
F: 55. Bailey Stewart 46. Joel Amartey 50. Sam Wicks
Foll: 17. Darcy Cameron 42. Robbie Fox 19. Matthew Ling
Inter: 52. Aidan Watling 54. Jeremy Shumack 53. Dylan Smith 49. Adam Tipungwuti
Emer: 56. Cooper Kilpatrick 57. Jordan Adams
In: 53. Dylan Smith 49. Adam Tipungwuti 16. Gary Rohan 52. Aidan Watling 59. Luke Parks
Out: 31. Harrison Marsh (AFL) 56. Joey Reinhard (Allies) 52. Joshua Stern (Allies) 49. Nick Blakey (Allies) 59. Kyle McKellar (Allies).
New: 59. Luke Parks
