Swans upbeat with Mumford close
Swans coach John Longmire is upbeat after his team's big win and news that Shane Mumford is about to return
SHANE Mumford should return against Richmond next weekend, adding to the Sydney Swan's already-potent stock of tall timber, warns coach John Longmire after his team's impressive win against the Lions.
Both Mumford and Kieren Jack were missing from the side that faced Brisbane Lions at the Gabba but it mattered little with the visitors smashing their opponents by 65 points.
Longmire stopped short of saying it was the best performance he had seen of his side this year, although it came close.
"I think the second half against Port Adelaide a couple of weeks ago (the Swans kicked 13 goals to Port Adelaide's five) we did pretty well, but this was probably the most pleasing," Longmire said.
"I just thought that, from the opening bounce, we played a very good standard of footy, we wanted to concentrate on getting off to a good start, we got off to a good start and it followed on from there."
He said Mumford, who missed the match against the Lions, as well as last week's win over North Melbourne, was a strong chance to play against the Tigers.
However, Jack, who suffered an ankle injury in a loss to Carlton earlier this year, was unlikely to return.
"I saw Mummy on Thursday and he said he was confident he would be back," Longmire said.
"We are not going to push them over the line, these blokes, they are very important for us."
The Swans showed they have enough players in form to cover for the two, with Lewis Roberts-Thomson kicking a career-high three goals up forward and Craig Bird also chipping in with 26 touches and eight marks.
"I thought he (Bird) was outstanding, he has been pretty good for us all year," Longmire said.
"Playing on some of the best players in the competition teaches him a lot [and now] he has been able to play good two-way football."