The Sydney Swans have named an unchanged side for this Sunday’s clash with St Kilda at the SCG.
Swans coach John Longmire said he was happy with the form shown by last week’s 22, who defeated the West Coast Eagles by 52 points in Perth.
“The players have been coming off some pretty good form and doing their jobs and playing their roles, so no changes this week,” Longmire told SwansTV
Swans utility Lewis Robert-Thomson has been named in the side after being cleared by doctors after suffering a heavy knock last weekend.
Longmire said Roberts-Thomson made a swift recovery from the incident and will be fit to join his team mates on field this weekend.
“He is going to be right to play,” he said.
“He got the all-clear from the doctors over in Perth and once again when he got back to Sydney our doctors saw him.
“Really early in the week he was feeling really good, and was able to train this week and is looking pretty good.”
There are a number of Swans pushing for senior selection, including young midfielder Luke Parker who will spend another match in the reserves this weekend.
Longmire said Parker, who made his return from a fractured collarbone a fortnight ago, will earn some much needed game time in the reserves on Sunday morning.
“It will be a good opportunity for (Parker) to play another full game in the reserves and get some really good game time under his belt,” he said.
“He will play a bit more in the midfield in the reserves than what he did last game and that will give him the opportunity to do a bit more of that sort of work.”
Longmire said he encouraged all the Swans reserves players to continue to push their claim for senior selection.
“The challenge is to keep it going and making sure we keep on putting the foot down, and that’s the challenge for both the senior team as well as the blokes who are playing in the reserves who aren’t playing in the seniors as the moment,” he said.
“Those guys are going to get their chance, but they’ve got to make sure they are in good enough form that they grab their opportunity with both hands.
“The players who have been able to do it this year have been able to come in and play a few games on the trot and have been able to make the most of their opportunities.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash with the Saints - the last team to defeat the Swans this season - Longmire said he is expecting another tough challenge at the SCG.
“The Saints really did a number on us last time,” he said,
“They’re a really good side and are able to kick 16 goals a game and have got some real stars.
“We know what the challenge is ahead of us but hopefully we’re up to it and we look forward to a really tight tussle.”
The final team to face St Kilda on Sunday afternoon is:
Sydney Swans v. St Kilda
SCG
Sunday, July 22, 2012
1.10pm
B R.Shaw, H.Grundy, A.Johnson
HB N.Smith, T.Richards, M.Mattner
C D.Hannebery, J.Bolton, L.Jetta
HF C.Bird, S.Reid, B.McGlynn
F J.McVeigh, A.Goodes, R.O'Keefe
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, K.Jack
I/C A.Everitt, N.Malceski, M.Pyke, L.Roberts-Thomson
Emg T.Armstrong, T.Dennis-Lane, T.Walsh
