SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire is disappointed by the reaction to James McDonald's hit on Luke Parker in Saturday's Sydney derby, saying commentators have got it all wrong.

Parker was left with a hairline fracture in his jaw after McDonald cleaned up the young Swan, with the GWS veteran earning himself a two-game ban from the match review panel.

Some commentators, including former Swan Gerard Healy, have commended McDonald for making a statement of intent for the young GWS side in its first hit-out.

A surprised Longmire said that was wide of the mark, saying the real statement was that Parker continued playing and would have seen the match out had the club not insisted he be substituted.

"It's probably more about some of the commentary we've heard about after the incident," Longmire said when asked about cross-town relations following the hit.

"For me the big statement out of the game was a 19-year-old that was cleaned up and had an injury being able to play the rest of the game out and play really well.

"That's the statement that matters to me and to Luke's teammates.

"He's a super tough kid who was cleaned up, obviously injured, but able to keep playing and play really well.

"Everyone talks about the statements to come out of the game, I think that's the most important statement from our point of view."

Parker played 13 games in his debut season with the club last year and had been one of the best performers during this year's NAB Cup.

He was left dazed after the heavy hit, but was able to continue and managed 17 possessions before he was subbed out in the third quarter.

While he measured his comments, Longmire was clearly upset about the incident and the resultant injury to Parker.

"I don't think he's able to sit down and have a big steak," Longmire said.

"Hopefully that will happen next week.

"I'm sure he's a bit tender and I'm sure he'll get over it; it's not a major break, but he's a bit sore and hopefully he starts to feel better next week.

"We had to make the decision to sub him, he didn't want to be subbed. He wanted to keep playing.

"He's one of the toughest kids I've seen play at that age. He's 19, he copped a knock, didn't whinge about it, got up and dusted himself off and kept playing."

Following this week's bye, the Swans play Fremantle at the SCG, and Longmire was unsure if Parker will be in the side.

"We really don't know," he said.

"He won't be able to train this week. It'll be dependent on how he feels next week and how he trains. We won't take any risks with him.

"Whilst he's hard and tough and fearless and will no doubt want to play, the medical staff will make a decision based upon how he feels next week."

James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD