The Sydney Swans have made four changes for Saturday’s match against West Coast, with Lewis Melican coming in for his first match of the season and Sam Gray returning to play his 100th AFL game.
Melican has been working his way back after suffering a hamstring injury in the pre-season.
Coach John Longmire said it’s good to have the defender back.
“Lewis has played a bit of footy for us over the past few years – he’s a strong defender and he’s good at his one-on-one contests, so it’s good to get him back in,” Longmire said.
“He had an injury-interrupted pre-season and then the break, so he’s played the past few games in our reserves.”
Melican comes in along with Colin O’Riordan, Ryan Clarke and milestone man Gray, who will run out for Sydney for the fourth time since being recruited last year.
Meanwhile Hayden McLean and Aliir Aliir look set to shoulder the ruck duties, after Callum Sinclair was ruled out with a knee injury.
“Unfortunately when he (Sinclair) was training on Tuesday he hyper-extended his knee and has a bit of bone bruising, so he’ll be out for a couple of weeks,” Longmire said.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s the week we lost Sam Naismith as well.”
Sinclair’s injury will leave the Swans with a dearth of height, now having seven big men on the sidelines including Naismith (knee), McCartin (concussion), Knoll (knee), Franklin (hamstring), Reid (calf), and Brand (groin).
Click here to see the full team.
