Help is at hand
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, April 19

SYDNEY are banking on the return of an “awesome foursome” as they try to turn their season around in Saturday night’s derby against GWS at the SCG.

Star players Kurt Tippett, Isaac Heeney, Jarrad McVeigh and Gary Rohan have been declared ready to go for the Swans as they try to reignite their floundering season, the first time they’ve lost their first four games in 24 years.

The challenge for coach John Longmire will be taking in too many players without match practice. Tippett (ankle) is the only one of the four who has played regular-season matches this year, lining up in the first two games against Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs. Heeney (glandular fever) played one JLT series match against North Melbourne in Coffs Harbour in February but McVeigh (calf) and Rohan (back) have not played at all this year.

“It’s great to have the players available,” Longmire said.

“Getting Tom Papley back last week and getting those four available, Tippett hasn’t missed a lot of football so he’s fitness wise in good shape. The others have trained the last few weeks and are training well. We’ll make the decision based on a few things including how they pull up tomorrow. Whether they all play we’re not quite sure.” 

Now the killer blow
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, April 19

EVEN Swans dual premiership great Jude Bolton can sense the AFL tide is turning in Sydney.

“The Giants will certainly look at this as a chance to get right on top of the Swans,” Bolton said.

“It is a true rivalry now because it doesn’t matter where they are on the ladder, these games are big now.”

And they don’t get any bigger than Saturday night’s first derby of the year between the Swans (0-4) and Giants (3-1) at the SCG. 

For most of their 35-year history, the Swans have been the only AFL show in town.

But after Sydney’s horror start to the year their cross-town rivals are now threatening the status quo in a big way.

Sleeping Giants have awoken and derby clash has the intensity of a final
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, April 19

KEVIN Sheedy always knew the Swans-Giants derby would turn into one of Sydney’s biggest events on the sporting calendar.

But unlike the early days when the inaugural Giants coach also had to play the role of salesman and spruik a rivalry that existed only on paper, Sheedy is anticipating Saturday night’s clash will produce something special. 

“This match is going to be like a final,” Sheedy said. “The competition is so close just look at the results over the past weeks, it’s just so important for both teams.

“It’s a final already and don’t think it’s not.”

Forgotten Swan set for inspiring return
Jon Ralph
Herald Sun, April 19

ALEX Johnson is on the verge of the AFL’s most remarkable comeback after five knee reconstructions in the past four years.

Sydney football boss Tom Harley confirmed the versatile defender completed full training on Tuesday for the first time this year.

And it is understood he is as few as four weeks away from a NEAFL return that seemed impossible so many times.

Harley told the Herald Sun Johnson had been inspired by his friend Daniel Menzel’s return after four knee reconstructions. 

He is likely to act as a runner in the NEAFL in coming weeks as he builds strength in his legs to ward against soft-tissue injuries. 

But after his most recent surgery was a success — using Menzel’s surgeon Julian Feller — anticipation is building about an inspirational comeback.

Sydney could welcome back four players for derby
James Buckley
SMH, April 19

The cavalry has arrived just in time for the winless Swans, who are set to welcome back up to four players for Saturday's crunch clash against the cross-town Giants.

Kurt Tippett, Isaac Heeney, Jarrad McVeigh and Gary Rohan will all be considered for selection this week with the Swans desperate to arrest their worst start to an AFL season in 24 years.

But the club didn't make it through last week entirely unscathed, with ruckman Sam Naismith going down with a medial ligament injury leaving him in a knee brace and facing four weeks on the sideline.

Tippett's return from an ankle injury will carry with it plenty of rucking responsibility, while McVeigh would provide a much-needed injection of experience into the young Swans' outfit after overcoming a pre-season calf tear.

Heeney has shaken off a bout of glandular fever and will provide plenty of grunt and flair in midfield or up forward, and Rohan offers another avenue to goal but may need to find form in the reserves before an AFL recall.

"It's just a matter of who we pick and we'll be coming to that decision tomorrow [Wednesday]," Swans coach John Longmire said. 

Shaw gets all clear to tackle Swans
James Buckley
SMH, April 19

GWS received promising injury news on Tuesday with Heath Shaw cleared of any serious damage following a knock to his shin in Saturday's win over Port Adelaide.

Shaw is expected to be right for Saturday's derby clash against the Sydney Swans at the SCG, while veteran forward Steve Johnson will train on Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness after missing the Port Adelaide win with a knee injury.

Midfielder Dylan Shiel has also been cleared of injury following a nasty shoulder knock at the weekend.

The Giants surged to fourth spot with their third consecutive win on Saturday but head to the SCG winless in four attempts at the venue, and coach Leon Cameron said recent form would mean nothing once the ball was bounced this weekend.

"When we come together, it doesn't matter where we sit on the ladder, it's on," Cameron said. 

Returning stars no certain ‘fix’
Adrian Warren
The Australian, AAP, April 19

Four returning Sydney stars will be available for Saturday’s derby but Swans coach John Longmire says they won’t automatically fix his winless side’s woes.

Longmire said Jarrad McVeigh, Isaac Heeney, Kurt Tippett and Gary Rohan would be available against Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, but there was no guarantee they would all play.

The Swans coach made it clear the returning players wouldn’t necessarily provide the panacea to arrest their 0-4 start.

“While we’re really looking forward to getting some players back this week and confident that can help us both in the short and medium term, they are not going to be the answer,” Longmire said.

“We can’t be waiting for the players that we get back in the team this week to automatically fix our form and consistency over four quarters.”