Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Jeremy Laidler will return to the side for this Saturday’s match at Adelaide Oval after both players missed the round two loss to Collingwood.
Adelaide v Sydney Swans Match Day Information
Swans coach John Longmire said he was disappointed Reid would miss this weekend’s match, but was hopeful his injury was only minor.
“Sam has been in good form over the pre-season,” Longmire told SwansTV’s Centrum Team Selection.
“He’s been fit and has really been hitting his straps, and unfortunately he just hurt his Achilles a bit at training today.
“We’re just hoping it’s not too bad and that he’ll be able to come back pretty soon.”
Longmire said Roberts-Thomson’s return would add versatility to the Swans’ line up after he missed last week with a hip/pelvis injury sustained in the round one loss to GWS.
“He can play a number of different roles for us,” Longmire said.
“He can play in the ruck if he needs to, he can play back and he can play forward, so he’s a very versatile player.
“He’s a very competitive player at his best too, so we’re hoping he can bring that to the team.”
The team will leave for Adelaide tomorrow afternoon, ahead of Saturday’s match at the newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval.
Longmire said his team would need to bring their best in front of a sell-out Adelaide crowd.
“We’re expecting a big crowd in Adelaide,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great experience to be able to play on that ground. They’ve done a fantastic job redeveloping it, and there are obviously going to be a lot of supporters there barracking for Adelaide.
“Our challenge is to make sure we bring our very best football against a competitive Adelaide team this week.”
After fading out in the final quarters of the last two matches, Longmire said a four-quarter effort was required from his entire team in order to post the club’s first win of the season.
“It’s a big game,” he said.
“Clearly with both teams not getting off to the starts they wanted to, it makes the challenge really, really fierce.
“We expect a really fierce challenge from both teams and the one that lasts the longest obviously comes out on top.”
Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans
Saturday April 5, 2014
1.40pm CST
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
B D.Rampe, T.Richards, R.Shaw
HB N.Smith, H.Grundy, N.Malceski
C L.Jetta, K.Jack, D.Hannebery
HF G.Rohan, L.Franklin, L.Parker
F R.O'Keefe, M.Pyke, B.McGlynn
Foll T.Derickx, J.McVeigh, J.Kennedy
I/C H.Cunningham, J.Laidler, T.Mitchell, L.Roberts-Thomson
Emg B.Jack, T.Nankervis, D.Towers
In: L.Roberts-Thomson, J.Laidler
Out: C.Bird (calf), S.Reid (Achilles)
