The returns of three star Swans will bolster Sydney in its clash with GWS at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
Midfielder Matt Ling, forward Robbie Fox and defender Harry Marsh will return for Round 6 as the Swans look to bag their first win of the season.
Ling was an emergency for the senior side’s match with North Melbourne last Saturday, while Fox and Marsh played.
They will form a nucleus of experienced cattle with defenders Aliir Aliir and Nic Newman, who have both tasted senior football, and third-year Swan Colin O’Riordan.
Among the many outs, Dan Robinson will return for the senior side’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG and Tom McCartin will make his AFL debut.
Ling, Fox and Marsh return to a winless outfit but one which development coach Tadhg Kennelly said was “up and about”.
“The spirits are good,” Kennelly said on Thursday.
“We went for a swim and breakfast this morning as a group. I took them down to Coogee and had a bit of a chat to them.
“They understand where we are as a football Club with some injuries.
“We haven’t had the best start as far as results are concerned, but I couldn’t be happier with the way the boys have gone about it as far as their effort and intent in the games they’ve played.”
Three players will make their NEAFL debuts on Saturday in Adam Tipungwuti, Aidan Watling and QBE Sydney Swans Academy star Reed Van Huisstede.
It will take the total number of Academy debutants to 25 for the season and follows a sweep of five newcomers last Saturday and another seven the week prior.
In total, the Swans have made 12 changes to the side which fell to the Aspley Hornets in a one-point thriller last Saturday.
The Swans topped the Hornets in contested possessions, clearances, inside 50s, hit-outs and tackles, but kicked 9.17 to the visitors’ 11.6 in a wasteful showing in front of goal.
Aspley co-captain Matt Payne snagged a goal in the 25th minute of the final quarter to hand his side the lead and Sydney failed to claw the deficit back despite having multiple opportunities.
Goal-kicking also proved the Swans’ downfall in a loss to the Gold Coast Suns the week prior in a return of 6.13.
Kennelly said the Swans would have to improve off the boot in the match the Giants.
“Kicking the ball between those sticks is what it’s all about at the end of the day,” Kennelly said.
“We can win all the stats in the game but if we don’t win the one that’s the most important – the scoreboard – it’s going to cost us.
“It’s been a bit of a focus for us the last couple of weeks and unless we get on top of it and really convert the results will keep going the way they have.”
The Swans and Giants have met on 23 occasions since GWS joined the competition in 2012 and Sydney holds a 12-11 advantage.
The Swans fell to the Giants in the 2016 grand final and again in a four-point defeat when the two sides last met in Round 1 this season.
In another twist in the fierce Sydney Derby rivalry, Adam Schneider is the Giants’ NEAFL coach and he and Kennelly became premiership teammates when the Swans took out the 2005 AFL flag.
The Giants will welcome back a number of stars of their own in towering presence Jon Patton and utility Dylan Buckley.
They both featured in the senior side’s loss to the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium last Friday and have 124 games of AFL experience between them.
Patton will bring a key target to the Giants’ forward 50 as he towers at 198 centimetres, can take a great contested grab and on a number of occasions has kicked a bag of goals.
Buckley can contribute as a forward, midfielder and defender and his speed and willingness to take the game on are two of his biggest threats.
The star inclusions are two of eight changes to the side which lost to the Southport Sharks in an 86-point defeat last Saturday.
But the Giants’ biggest danger is ruckman Dawson Simpson.
The former Geelong big man tips the measuring tape at 210 centimetres and is running second in most hit-outs per game (38) behind Aspley ruckman Jake Spencer.
Kennelly said Swans ruckman Darcy Cameron, who’s enjoyed stellar NEAFL form of his own this season, would relish the opportunity.
“Darcy’s knocking the door down as far as senior selection and making his debut for the football Club,” Kennelly said.
“He just needs to continue on in doing what he’s doing and competing as hard as he can. His ruck-work has been superb, he’s clunking his marks and he’s going after the footy.
“He’ll be up against a genuine ruckman in Dawson Simpson, who’s a big man and who’s going to compete hard.
“I’m looking forward to that contest itself. That’s going to be the game really there. It’s about who gives their side first use of the ball and then getting after them on the inside.”
Kennelly expects the Giants to fire.
“They’ve been in a similar situation to us with injuries,” Kennelly said.
“They’ve been hit from pillar to post – the seniors and club as a whole last week. They got smashed by Geelong and Southport ran over the reserves in the second half.
“But they’ve been playing their football very similarly to us with their contested footy and you can guarantee they will come out fierce and ready to go.”
Team:
B: 56. Dylan Smith 21. Jack Maibaum 31. Harrison Marsh
HB: 38. Colin O’Riordan 36. Aliir Aliir 28. Nic Newman
C: 49. Isaac Bartholomeus 45. Angus Styles 33. Ryley Stoddart
HF: 54. Jeremy Shumack 58. Mitchell Rogers 53. James Webster
F: 55. Bailey Stewart 46. Joel Amartey 42. Robbie Fox
Foll: 17. Darcy Cameron 41. Jake Brown 19. Matthew Ling
Inter: 60. Reed Van Huisstede 57. Adam Tipungwuti 59. Lachlan Dent 50. Aidan Watling 52. Kyle Veerhuis
Emergency: 51. Jacob Dol
