Key defensive duo Alex Johnson and Ted Richards will return to the side after both missed last Saturday night’s gallant loss to Collingwood, as will the young pair of Lewis Jetta and Luke Parker.
Johnson has recovered from a slight tear in his calf muscle sustained in the round 13 game against Carlton, while Richards has made it back from an ankle injury that resulted in him being a late withdrawal from last weekend’s game against the Magpies.
The news isn’t as good for Swans midfielder Kieren Jack who will miss Saturday night’s game against the Crows after re-injuring the right ankle that saw him miss five games between rounds 7 and 11.
Defender Nick Malceski will also miss after carrying a sore groin over the last couple of weeks, but coach John Longmire said he was confident that both Malceski and Jack would only miss this weekend.
“(Kieren) did a little bit today, but we didn’t want to stir it up too much so we decided to rest him and take the chance that he will be alright next week,” Longmire said.
“Nick Malceski’s had a sore groin for a couple of weeks and he’s been battling along pretty well with it, but the reality is it’s probably got a little bit sore for him at the moment.”
With two talls returning in defence and two running players missing through injury, Longmire said he needed an injection of pace into the team on the vast AAMI Stadium surface, so Jetta and Parker have been recalled with Lewis Johnston and Andrejs Everitt making way.
“It is a big ground and you need that run,” he said.
“(Jetta’s) obviously got plenty of (pace) at his best and he played well there last year and we’re hopeful that he will be able to bring the same this week.
“(Parker’s) had a really good year for a first-year player. He’s played a couple of games for us, had a taste of senior footy and he’s super hard and really good over head.”
The Swans travel to AAMI Stadium for the first time since they defeated the Crows by 43 points in round 2 last year, and Longmire said the team needs to bring the same endeavour that saw them push the reigning premiers for four quarters last weekend.
“We need to maintain our intensity and energy for the four quarters,” Longmire said.
“Our challenge still is to execute well under pressure, and no matter who you play, that’s what you need to do to be a really good team.”
The team to face Adelaide is:
B: N.Smith, H.Grundy, M.Mattner
HB: T.Kennelly, L.Roberts-Thomson, T.Richards
C: B.McGlynn, J.Bolton, J.McVeigh
HF: R.O'Keefe, S.Reid, A.Goodes
F: R.Shaw, J.White, L.Parker
Foll: M.Seaby, J.Kennedy, D.Hannebery
I/C: P.Bevan, C.Bird, L.Jetta, A.Johnson
Emg: A.Everitt, L.Johnston, J.Moore
In: T.Richards , L.Jetta , L.Parker , A.Johnson
Out: N.Malceski (Groin), K.Jack (Ankle), A.Everitt, L.Johnston