Swans selection headache
After a number of impressive performances on the weekend, the Swans selection committee face a number of difficult decisions ahead of Sunday’s clash with the We
With a number of Swans players pushing for selection, coach John Longmire admitted there will be plenty to talk about at the selection table this week.
Following the Swans’ eleventh win of the season on Saturday afternoon against the Lions, Longmire said there are a number of players who have made their case for selection in this weekend’s all important top-of-the-table clash against the West Coast Eagles.
“Looking at the game, it was a really good quality, pressure performance by us,” Longmire said.
“I thought after the game that it was OK, but looking back on the game again I thought that our pressure skills were really good and we put an enormous amount of pressure on the opposition which allowed us to score.
“As a whole I thought our pressure efforts were really good and it was a good performance by us.”
One player who has put his name forward for selection next weekend is Nick Malceski, who was a late inclusion for defender Marty Mattner, who missed Saturday’s match with a groin injury.
Making the most of his opportunities, Malceski notched up 29 possessions as well as six marks and two tackles, to be named as one of the best Swans on the ground.
Longmire said both Malceski and Mattner will be in the mix for selection this weekend against the Eagles.
“Nick Malceski, who came in at the last minute, played a really good game,” he said.
“Marty Mattner, we’re hoping he comes back into the team as well, so that does put a bit of pressure on selection.”
Another Swan looking to earn a seat on the flight to Perth this weekend is young midfielder Luke Parker, who marked his return to the field with a stand-out performance in the Swans reserves.
The 19-year-old, who missed a month of football with a fractured collarbone, got through the match unscathed and had a major impact on the game kicking three goals and was among the reserves’ best.
Longmire said the coaching staff will discuss Parker’s return to senior football later this week.
“I think we’ll have to discuss that and whether we take (Parker) to Perth or not,” he said.
“Our reserves don’t play this week so we’ll need a strong training session from that anyway, but we’ll sit down later in the week and work out the balance of our team.
“Do we sit down and assess Luke’s value to us this week, after one week in the reserves versus his value over the course of the rest of the year? That’s something we’ll discuss later in the week.”
How to best combat the Eagles’ talented ruck duo of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui will also be assessed at the selection table this week.
Longmire said emerging ruckman Mike Pyke is a good chance of holding his place in the team alongside Shane Mumford.
“(Pyke) is a real chance to (keep his spot),” he said.
“We go over there knowing we’re up (against) one of the premier ruck combinations in the game and Pykey has been pretty good for us over the last few weeks.
“He’s been able to be competitive for us and has done OK for us at times as a forward as well, so he’s a real chance of staying in.
“When he’s able to stick to the real basics of the game, which is to provide a real contest and do that, he’s able to be a pretty effective player for us.
“He’s been able to do that and do it pretty well, and that allows other people to do their roles and it’s allowed Mummy to ease back into the game over the last four or five weeks and build his form and fitness as well.”