Sydney Swans forwards Sam Reid and Mitch Morton have been named in the Swans side who will take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
Reid will make his return after spending two weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Morton will make his debut for the Swans.
Coach John Longmire said the pair will add additional fire power to the Swans forward line.
“It’s good to get Sam Reid back in the team as he’s an important part of our forward line, and Mitch Morton will also get his first game for the club,” he said.
“(Reid’s) role is as a key forward and a key marking target as well as to bring the ball to ground and create opportunities to score.
“He is also very good at putting pressure on defensively as well, and that’s what we’re after this week.”
Longmire said Morton, who has kicked 75 goals in the NEAFL this season, deserved a chance to ply his trade in the Swans senior side this week.
“Mitch has played well in the reserves for almost the entire year,” he said.
“He did miss a few games with an injury but he’s bounced back pretty well from that (and) he deserves his chance.”
Swans forward Trent Dennis-Lane and defender Tony Armstrong are the two players who make way for Reid and Morton this week.
Longmire said the pair would benefit from extended game time in the reserves this weekend.
“Tony just came in and played briefly last week and didn’t get a lot of game time, so he needs to play four quarters against the Brisbane reserves,” Longmire said.
“Trent has been playing pretty well, but was a bit quiet last week, so he’ll go to Brisbane and hopefully play well in the reserves team, and that will put him right in the frame for the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, Longmire stressed that the Swans must be cautious of the Western Bulldogs this week, who have named a number of experienced players in their side including Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney.
“It will be a different looking Western Bulldogs team,” he said.
“They’ve made seven changes and the names they’ve brought in are some of their better players like Cooney, Griffin and Higgins.
“There are plenty of good players there and a lot of experience they’ve brought back into the team and they’ll be a tough team to beat.”
Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans
Sunday August 19, 2012
3.15pm AEST
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
B R.Shaw, H.Grundy, A.Johnson
HB N.Smith, T.Richards, M.Mattner
C N.Malceski, J.McVeigh, L.Jetta
HF D.Hannebery, L.Roberts-Thomson, R.O'Keefe
F C.Bird, S.Reid, A.Goodes
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, K.Jack
I/C B.McGlynn, M.Morton, L.Parker, M.Pyke
Emg T.Armstrong, B.Meredith, M.Spangher
In: M.Morton, S.Reid
Out: T.Armstrong, T.Dennis-Lane
New: Mitch Morton (West Coast, Richmond)
