Bolton’s inclusion is one of four changes for the Swans, with youngsters Brandon Jack and Harry Cunningham selected in the side, as well as Shane Biggs, who has been named to make his AFL debut on Friday night.
Midfielder Jed Lamb, who has played 12 games for the Swans this season, joins Shaw, Hannebery and Smith on the sidelines after being omitted from the team that lost to Geelong by 44 points last Saturday.
Swans coach John Longmire said Shaw, who underwent LARS surgery on his injured right knee this week, was a huge loss for the Swans.
“He’s one of our more important players and has been since he arrived here a few years ago,” Longmire told SwansTV.
“For him to just come back in some good form obviously against St Kilda the week before and to suffer that injury so early in the game, was very disappointing for him.
“I’ve spoken to him following the operation and he’s really confident that he’ll have a good pre-season, and that’s what he’s about.”
Longmire said he was hopeful that Hannebery and Smith, who both suffered heavy knocks in the loss to the Cats, would miss just one week.
“They have been really important players for us but it gives us an opportunity to play some other players in those roles this weekend and hopefully they are really competitive,” he said.
“Hannebery had that knock and has got some bone bruising and hopefully will be OK next week and it’s the same with Nick Smith who was a bit tight in his calf after a bit of a battering last week as well, so hopefully those boys benefit (from a week off) and will be able to come back into the team next week.”
Recently elevated rookie Shane Biggs will become the Swans’ sixth debutant for the 2013 season when he takes the field this Friday night.
Longmire said the 22-year-old was a versatile player who could run through the midfield as well as out of defence.
“Biggs is our fourth rookie listed player who has been promoted and makes his debut for the year,” he said.
“He’s 189cm, so he’s actually quite tall, and he can run really well, so he gets his opportunity this week against Hawthorn and hopefully he makes the most of it.”
Looking ahead tomorrow night’s final round match, the coach said the Swans were determined to regain some good form against the Hawks, following last week’s loss to Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
“We just want to play the sort of footy we want to play and that’s the key coming into this week’s game,” he said.
“We need to make sure we fix up a few areas we weren’t good at last week and make sure we get our transitions right and play some really competitive football against the team who is sitting on top of the ladder, which we’re really looking forward to.”
Sydney Swans v. Hawthorn
ANZ Stadium
Friday August 30, 2013
7.50pm
B D.Rampe, H.Grundy, A.Everitt
HB J.McVeigh, T.Richards, N.Malceski
C R.O'Keefe, K.Jack, G.Rohan
HF J.Bolton, J.White, B.McGlynn
F L.Parker, K.Tippett, S.Mumford
Foll M.Pyke, J.Kennedy, C.Bird
I/C S.Biggs, H.Cunningham, B.Jack, T.Mitchell
Emg J.Lamb, M.Morton, X.Richards
In: H.Cunningham, S.Biggs, B.Jack, J.Bolton
Out: R.Shaw (knee), N.Smith (calf), D.Hannebery (knee), J.Lamb
New: S.Biggs (Bendigo Bombers (VFL))
