Despite an 11-match losing streak against the Magpies between 2005 and 2012, the Swans’ recent history against Collingwood shows a more even ledger between the two sides.
While the Magpies took out the most recent clash in round 20 last season, the Swans ended the 11-match draught in emphatic style in the 2012 preliminary final with a 26-point win, and also posted a 47-point victory over Collingwood at the MCG in round nine last year.
Longmire said the Swans’ recent clashes with Collingwood would be the only measuring stick the club would consider in the lead up to this weekend’s game.
“We’ve had a couple of good wins against Collingwood and they’ve had a couple of good wins in recent times,” Longmire told media on Monday.
“Rather than the last 10 or 15 years, we look at a shorter (timeframe) than that and in the last couple of years it’s been a bit closer … and both teams have had good wins against each other.”
The Swans will face a near full-strength Collingwood side this weekend, who will also be looking to post their first win of the season following their round one loss to Fremantle.
The Magpies are expected to regain the services of key position player Ben Reid, as well as former Swan Jesse White who missed the opening round through injury.
Longmire said this weekend’s match presented a huge challenge for the Swans, who would need to make massive improvements from their recent performance against GWS.
“It’s our challenge this week to make sure we play at our maximum to beat a very good Collingwood outfit on the weekend,” Longmire said.
“We went through a period of looking at the (GWS) game and our clearance work, and our stoppage work, and our contested ball when the game was up for grabs in the last quarter where it really fell away.
“If we look at the games that have been played out until now, that’s what wins games of footy and nothing has changed.
“That means that the pressure is on as far as trying to win the contested ball in a 50-50 situation and then really hard running both ways.”
After missing round one with a back injury, Longmire said that co-captain Kieren Jack would train this week and would likely be in the mix for Saturday night.
“At this point, we expect Kieren to train on Thursday and play this week,” he said.
“He ran really hard and did a hard session with us on Friday and we expect him to be able to get through training and play this week.”
With Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes already missing, the coach said he was also hopeful that Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who was subbed out of last week’s match with groin soreness, would be available to play this week.
“(Roberts-Thomson) was subbed and his groin was a bit sore,” he said,
“He got a scan and there’s no muscle damage, so we’ll have to see how he trains on Thursday.”
