The dual Brownlow medallist, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round 13 last season, trained strongly on Thursday and comes into the side in place of Brandon Jack.
Sydney Swans v Melbourne Match Day Information
Speaking to SwansTV for Centrum Team Selection, Longmire said Goodes was determined to play this weekend after getting through training with flying colours.
“He turned up today and looked really sharp and virtually came into my office afterwards and said he was keen to play,” Longmire said.
“He’s been training well over the last few weeks and has been doing all that’s been required of him.
“Adam knows himself pretty well, so he comes into the team which is great news.”
The coach said the two-time premiership player, who will line up for his 332nd match, would add both talent and experience to the Swans’ side on Saturday night.
“It’s great to have him back in the 22,” Longmire said.
“He’s a player that brings an enormous amount of experience, but he’s also that sort of player who can play a really valuable role for us at any particular time.”
Following the club’s impressive 17-point win over Fremantle at the SCG last week, the Swans will head to Melbourne for the first time this season to face the Demons.
Longmire said his team would need to produce the same level of effort as they did against the Dockers when they face the Paul Roos’ coached Melbourne side at the MCG.
“We played with enormous effort and energy last week for four quarters, and that’s what is required in AFL football and we need to bring that every week,” he said.
“(Melbourne) have been pretty competitive over the last couple of weeks and they’ve thrown their team around.
“They’ve put (James) Frawley up forward and they’ve got (Chris) Dawes up forward, so they’ve changed their team a little bit over the last couple of weeks.
“They had a win against Carlton and they got to within eight points last week against the Suns, so they are pretty competitive.
“We know that any team coached by ‘Roosy’ will be competitive and that’s certainly what Melbourne has shown.”
Melbourne v Sydney Swans
Saturday April 26, 2014
7.40pm EST
MCG
B N.Smith, T.Richards, D.Rampe
HB N.Malceski, H.Grundy, R.Shaw
C D.Hannebery, J.Kennedy, J.McVeigh
HF B.McGlynn, L.Roberts-Thomson, L.Jetta
F L.Parker, L.Franklin, A.Goodes
Foll M.Pyke, K.Jack, H.Cunningham
I/C C.Bird, T.Derickx, J.Laidler, J.Lloyd
Emg B.Jack, Z.Jones, S.Reid
In: A.Goodes
Out: B.Jack
