The Bulldogs have produced some of their best performances of the year over the last month, with narrow losses to top-four sides Essendon and Hawthorn, followed by a break-out win over the West Coast Eagles last week.
Speaking ahead of the Swans’ final training session at the SCG before Sunday’s clash, Longmire said the Swans can’t ignore the Bulldogs rise in recent weeks.
“They’ve got some really good running players and they’ve gone from 13th in possessions in the last three weeks to being number one in disposals,” Longmire said.
“Their form in the last three weeks has stood up against Essendon, Hawthorn and the West Coast Eagles, and they are high in handballs, so we need to get our hands on it first.
“It’s a critical part of the game to be able to get your hands on it first and we know if they get their hands on it they can do some damage.”
Two players who have had no shortage of the ball this season are Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy and Bulldogs young gun Tom Liberatore, who both rank in the competition’s top three for clearances.
Liberatore leads the competition with West Coast’s Matt Priddis with a total of 127 clearances and averages 7.5 per game, while Kennedy is just behind with 124 for the season and is averaging 7.3 per match.
A slim margin also separates the two midfielders in stoppages, with Kennedy leading the AFL in clearances with 78 for the season, at an average of 4.6 per game, with Liberatore in second place with 74, at an average of 4.4 per game.
Longmire said the contest between the two midfielders would be one of games’ most important match ups.
“They might spend a little bit of time on each other and will probably spend a fair bit of time in the ice baths afterwards I guess as well,” he said.
“They are both strong contested ball players and they are outstanding at clearances and I’m sure with the amount of stoppages that it’s an important part of the game.
“If Josh Kennedy is in there with Libba having a whack at it, I’m sure it will be a really good contest to see and hopefully Josh gets hold of it before Libba does.”
Kennedy’s consistency will be punctuated this weekend with the midfielder set to play his 100th consecutive match, which moves him into second place for current consecutive games played in the AFL.
Younger midfielder Luke Parker will also reach a milestone when he plays his 50th game for the Swans.
Longmire said Parker was developing into one of the Swans’ most important players.
“He’s had an incredible rise, Luke Parker, to being a regular AFL player,” he said.
“Playing 50 games at such a young age, and he’s missed a bit of footy with a crook collarbone last year, and he’s already had an injury that he’s been able to get over and get back into the team.
“This year his consistency in the midfield has been really strong and he’s played forward for us as well and kicked goals and it’s a real credit to him and he’s a real competitor.”
Longmire also confirmed that Rhyce Shaw, who was named in the Swans’ extended squad last night, would play this weekend should he get through Friday’s final training session.
“We’re hopeful that Rhyce Shaw is able to get through the training session and if he pulls up, we’ll name him in the team,” he said.
“We’ve just obviously got to get through that last training session.”
