Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has heaped praise on the glowing early-season form of rising defender Aliir Aliir.

After carving out a sparkling back end to his 2018 campaign, the flamboyant 24-year-old defender has picked up where he left off in the early exchanges of season 2019.

Although Sydney fell to the Adelaide Crows in a 26-point loss last Friday night, Aliir posted 17 touches at a disposal efficiency of 94 per cent, and kept a tight leash on dangerous forward Josh Jenkins, in another eye-catching display.

“He was able to defend really well, he was able to win his one-on-ones and he was able to turn defence into attack,” Longmire said.

“He was tracking along pretty well in the pre-season, he’s had a couple of good weeks to start the season and he’s been important down back. But we’ve thrown him in the ruck at times as well, so his versatility has been critical."

Aliir has locked down a position as a key defender in Sydney’s senior side, but he filled the void of ruckman Callum Sinclair as the Swans trumped the Gold Coast Suns in their final JLT Community Series fixture early last month.

He then opened the season proper with 15 possessions at a disposal efficiency of 80 per cent in the Swans’ loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Although Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe is expected to be handed the primary task of shadowing Carlton’s Charlie Curnow in Round 3 on Saturday, Aliir could find himself restricting the powerful young forward at various points in the match.

Curnow stands at 192 centimetres, weighs in at 96 kilograms and snared 34 goals across 20 games in 2018.

First-year Sydney draftee Nick Blakey has offered towering height of his own in the Swans’ forward 50, but Longmire says there’s every chance the 19-year-old could add to the side’s armoury elsewhere.

Lance Franklin and Sam Reid both inject a commanding presence into Sydney’s forward 50, while 193-centimetre youngster Tom McCartin would add to the tall timber if recalled to face the Blues.

Longmire says Blakey, whose outstanding aerobic capacity made for an ideal fit for the midfield in his QBE Sydney Swans Academy journey, has plenty to offer.

“We could use him somewhere other than the forward line. We’ve talked about using him up in the midfield, particularly the wing. So that’s still an option for us,” Longmire said.

“There’s no doubt he’ll develop into a player who can move up the ground and play through that midfield area. With his kick and height he can give support in defence as well as go forward and mark it.

“How soon we’re not sure but playing him in another position is certainly an option.”