The trio come into the side in place of Tom Mitchell, who will miss the match with an ankle injury, with Gary Rohan and Ryan O’Keefe left out of the side for the round five match.
Sydney Swans v Fremantle Match Day Information
Bird, who missed round three against Adelaide with a calf injury, returns to the senior team following a dominant performance in the Swans reserves win last Sunday.
Speaking to SwansTV coach John Longmire said the premiership player had benefitted from a full game in the NEAFL last week.
“Craig hadn’t played and had been a bit sore, and didn’t play the week before, so he needed to get a full game last week in our reserves,” he said.
“He went and did that and played quite well and we know he can be a good senior player, so he comes back into the team.”
Jack will play his first senior game this year, following a break-out 2013 which saw him play nine games at AFL level.
Longmire said he hoped Jack would provide an injection of pace in the Swans’ forward 50 this week.
“Brandon obviously played some senior football last year and played quite a number of games and showed some real zip in the front half,” he said.
“With Gary going out of the team to get some game time in the reserves, we hope to still have some speed in our front half and he’ll play that (same) role for us as he did last year.”
Brandon Jack, Craig Bird and Jake Lloyd have been included for round five
Horsham junior Jake Lloyd, who arrived at the club via pick 15 in the 2013 Rookie Draft, also comes into the side this week following a number of outstanding performances in the NEAFL.
Longmire said he was excited to give Lloyd his first opportunity at senior football.
“Jake’s been elevated off the rookie list and he’s really excited to play his first game of senior footy,” he said.
“He’s been a consistent performer in our reserves for a long period of time.
“He’s an excellent runner, he’s got huge endurance and he’s got really good, quick reaction times and is a very good kick.
“He comes into our team and he’s deserved that spot because he’s earned it.”
Lloyd gets the call-up
Following the Swans disappointing start to the season, Longmire said changes were necessary heading into this weekend’s clash against last year’s grand finalists.
The coach said the omission of veteran Ryan O’Keefe was a reflection of that need for change, adding that the 2012 Norm Smith medalist was still a valued member of the squad.
“Obviously we’ve lost a few games so we have to make some changes, so Craig Bird comes in to play a similar role to what Ryan has been playing,” he said.
“Ryan’s role will continue to be discussed each week.
“For the first couple of weeks he’s had a role, and this week he hasn’t got a role, but that doesn’t change next week or the week after.
“We continue to have faith in Ryan to come in and play certain roles for us, and specific roles that we need in the team, and when those opportunities arise I’m sure he’ll be putting his hand up.”
Longmire also confirmed that both Mitchell and Rohan would benefit from time out of the seniors, with the pair still feeling the effects of being sidelined for extended periods of time with injury last year.
Rohan, who has been the starting substitute the last two games, and was also subbed out of the round two match against Collingwood, will get a full game in the reserves match against Gold Coast on Saturday.
“Tommy Mitchell’s had a crook ankle for a couple of weeks, so he goes out of the team,” Longmire said.
“Gary Rohan is going out to play some reserves game time because we’re a bit unsure about how he’s going to last in the seniors at the moment if he plays big minutes.
“He struggled with that over the last few weeks, so we need to see him play some more game time in our reserves and hopefully he gets through a full game.”
Despite not being named in the senior team, key forward Kurt Tippett will make a return to the field, lining up alongside Rohan in the Swans reserves.
“We did discuss briefly the chance of (Kurt) playing senior football but the reality is that he hasn’t had as much preparation as he had last year when he was training because he was suspended and then came back in and had the impact that he did,” Longmire said.
“This year he hasn’t been training anywhere near as much as he did last year and I guess that influenced our decision along with our medical and conditioning staff.
“We can play him and manage him a bit more in our reserves and manage his game time and his load, and hopefully he gets through and pulls up really well.”
Fremantle has made two changes, with Nat Fyfe and Chris Mayne replacing Hayden Crozier and Josh Simpson, who have both been omitted.
Sydney Swans v. Fremantle
SCG
Saturday, April 19, 2014
4.40pm
B D.Rampe, T.Richards, N.Smith
HB N.Malceski, H.Grundy, R.Shaw
C K.Jack, J.Kennedy, J.McVeigh
HF B.McGlynn, L.Roberts-Thomson, L.Jetta
F L.Parker, L.Franklin, B.Jack
Foll M.Pyke, D.Hannebery, H.Cunningham
I/C C.Bird, T.Derickx, J.Laidler, J.Lloyd
Emg A.Aliir, Z.Jones, R.O'Keefe
In: C.Bird , J.Lloyd , B.Jack
Out: T.Mitchell (ankle), R.O'Keefe, G.Rohan
New: J.Lloyd (North Ballarat U18)
