The Sydney Swans have called on a mix of experience and pace at the selection table for this weekend’s preliminary final against Fremantle at Perth’s Patersons Stadium.
Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan – who both missed last weekend’s semi final victory over Carlton with calf soreness –return to the Swans side that will face the Dockers from 5.45pm AWST on Saturday.
As reported earlier in the week, Kurt Tippett (knee) and Tom Mitchell (ankle) are the two players who will be missing from the side that accounted for the Blues by 24 points last Saturday night.
Speaking to SwansTV in Perth on Thursday afternoon, coach John Longmire said McGlynn was a welcome inclusion after just falling short of fitness last weekend.
“He was very close last week, but we didn’t want to take the risk – we wanted a team that was fit and could play the four quarters,” Longmire said.
“We ruled him out last week even though he was touch-and-go, but that hopefully gives him the opportunity to come in and have a really good strong contribution this week against Fremantle.”
A further injection of acceleration and a knack around goal sees Rohan recalled to the side after not making it up for senior selection last weekend.
Rohan featured in the Swans reserves NEAFL premiership in Canberra last Sunday and was a dynamic option up forward and on the wing for the team.
The 22-year-old will play just his second game at Patersons Stadium, after he was an influential substitute picking up nine possessions and kicking a goal in the Swans’ round three victory over the West Coast Eagles back in 2011.
Grouped with the blistering pace of Lewis Jetta and Harry Cunningham, who combined for three goals in the Swans’ semi final win, Longmire said last week’s hit out in the reserves had prepared Rohan to be a valuable addition to the Swans’ side this week.
“He’s feeling fine,” he said.
“He’s played a lot of footy over the last four-to-six weeks, so he should be fit and ready to go.”
After arriving in Perth on Wednesday evening, the Swans completed their main training session for the week at Patersons Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Longmire said he felt the Swans had recovered well from last Saturday’s gruelling semi final and were well prepared for the challenge ahead.
“They pulled up really well,” he said.
“We had a really light week on the training track this week and we’ve recovered well.
“The players feel really good in themselves and are looking forward to the game.”
The coach said his players had had plenty of time to acclimatise to the Perth conditions and were primed for Saturday night’s clash.
“We enjoy coming to Perth,” he said.
“We get over here a bit earlier and we enjoy the whole atmosphere of travelling on the road.
“This is one of the biggest challenges but we don’t shy away from that, but we’re really looking forward to it.
“It will obviously be a packed out crowd and a great team that we play in Fremantle.”
AFL Finals Week 3: Preliminary Final
Sydney Swans v Fremantle
Saturday, September 21
5.45pm AWST
Patersons Stadium
B D.Rampe, T.Richards, S.Biggs
HB J.McVeigh, H.Grundy, N.Smith
C A.Everitt, K.Jack, N.Malceski
HF D.Hannebery, J.Bolton, C.Bird
F L.Parker, M.Pyke, J.White
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, R.O'Keefe
I/C H. Cunningham, L.Jetta, B.McGlynn
Emg B.Jack, J.Lamb, L. Roberts-Thomson
In: B.McGlynn, G.Rohan
Out: K.Tippett (knee), T. Mitchell (ankle)
Milestones: Shane Mumford - 100 games
- with Tanya Paolucci
