The Sydney Swans will welcome Ed Barlow back to the senior team this weekend, after the talented young midfielder was selected to play against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Barlow will take the field with the rest of the side at this weekend's SCG clash, replacing forward Nick Davis.

Senior coach Paul Roos said the young midfielder will bring additional speed to the side.

“[Barlow]'s very fit, so he gives us a bit more run and carry," said Roos. 

"We can already see where the game is heading with the running type athlete and we think he's going to be a good player."

Roos pointed out that Barlow is still very much in the process of developing as a footballer.
“We know it's going to take some time. Maybe there are similarities in playing different positions, I remember with Lewis Roberts-Thomson where there were times when we just kept playing him.
"And a lot of players are like that and I think Ed's going to be a really good player but he just needs to be played.

In the absence of running defender Nick Malceski, Barlow's speed is even more of an asset to his club.
“Ed's a very good runner and athlete and we probably didn't run as much with the ball last week and didn't get outside," said Roos.
“Obviously losing Mal [running defender Nick Malceski] was someone we needed to replace. We brought in [Marty] Mattner and we saw Tadhg [Kennelly] play really well last week.
“So he's one of those players we've ear-marked as an outside running ball carrying player that we missed last week.”


Sydney Swans vs. Port Adelaide
Sunday 30th March, 1:10 PM
Sydney Cricket Ground

Sydney Swans

B:             Kennelly, Barry, Mattner.
HB:         C Bolton, R-Thomson, Jack.
C:            McVeigh, Kirk, Buchanan.
HF:         O’Keefe, O’Loughlin, J Bolton.
F:             Bird, Hall, Grundy.
FOL:      Jolly, Goodes,  Moore.
INT:       Ablett, Barlow, Bevan, Richards.        
EMG:     Brennan,  Davis, Mathews
IN:          Barlow
OUT:       Davis

Milestones:   Luke Ablett (100 Games)
                       Martin Mattner (100 Games)

Port Adelaide Power

B:            Pettigrew, Carlile, Surjan
HB:         Burgoyne, Thurstans, Cassisi
C:            Boak, C Cornes, K Cornes
HF:          Roday, Westhoff, Pearce
F:             Motlop, Tredrea, Ebert
FOL:       Lade, Salopek, Burgoyne
INT:       Brogan,  Chaplin Stewart, Thomas
EMG:     Bentley, White, Logan
IN:          Chaplin
OUT:      Logan