Brandon to debut, White returns
Jesse White and Brandon Jack have been added to the Sydney Swans team to face Adelaide for Tommy Walsh and Lewis Jetta
Jack comes into the team in place of Lewis Jetta, who will miss the match with shin soreness, while White replaces Tommy Walsh, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in last weekend’s win over Essendon.
Swans coach John Longmire confirmed that Jetta would miss this weekend’s clash after failing to train during the week.
“Unfortunately Jetts was a little bit sore after the game last week and we were hoping he was OK this week, but he wasn’t able to train Tuesday and he wasn’t able to train today,” Longmire told SwansTV.
“He’s got a sore shin, so that means he is out for this week and hopefully he’s back for our next game after the bye.”
With Jetta unavailable for Saturday’s game, Longmire said Jack, whose speed and determination have been on show for the Swans reserves in recent weeks, was a worthy selection to take on the Crows.
“We just thought with Lewis out of the team, that Brandon’s got that absolute genuine speed,” he said.
“We’re not saying that he’s Lewis Jetta just yet and he’s got a lot to learn, and he understands that, and he still needs to improve a lot to be a consistent AFL player.
“Brandon is one of the first players to come through the QBE Sydney Swans Academy system, and while he’s still got a long way to go, it’s a credit to the Academy program for how far he has come.
“He’s been improving in our reserves and this week he’s got the opportunity to play his first game of football, which is just such a great story for himself to be able to do that but also for his brother and his family.”
Jack will be the fourth Swan to make his debut this year, with Dane Rampe, Jed Lamb and Tom Mitchell all playing their first senior game for the Swans in the first ten rounds of the season.
Looking ahead to Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Crows, Longmire said he hoped Jesse White would also make the most of his opportunity this week, in what will be his second senior game for the season.
“We just hope that he brings what we know he can deliver,” Longmire said.
“He’s been consistent in our reserves but he just needs to be a bit more consistent in our seniors, and that’s what we hope he’s able to do.”
Longmire said the Swans would need to be at their best this week against the Crows, who have won three of their last four matches.
“Their midfield is A-grade and it’s as good as there is going around in the competition and their defence is really settled,” he said.
“They’ve changed their forward line a bit and have had some players rotating through there who have been kicking goals and that’s what we know we’re going to get from them.
“They’ve really increased their uncontested possession rate over the last five weeks and they are running really strongly and are a good two-way team.”
Adelaide v Sydney Swans
Saturday June 8, 2013
4.10pm CST
AAMI Stadium
B N.Malceski, T.Richards, N.Smith
HB J.McVeigh, H.Grundy, D.Rampe
C L.Parker, D.Hannebery, K.Jack
HF C.Bird, A.Goodes, J.Bolton
F T.Mitchell, S.Mumford, B.McGlynn
Foll M.Pyke, J.Kennedy, R.O'Keefe
I/C A.Everitt, B.Jack, M.Morton, J.White
Emg T.Armstrong, J.Lamb, D.Towers
In: J.White, B.Jack
Out: L.Jetta (shin soreness), T.Walsh (hamstring)
New: B.Jack (Pennant Hills)