KURT TIPPETT WON'T PLAY AGAINST FREMANTLE. HERALDSUN
THE Swans injury curse continues with superstar forward Kurt Tippett and midfielder Tom Mitchell both out of Saturday night’s Preliminary Final against Fremantle in Perth.
But it wasn’t all bad news for the defending premiers with full back Ted Richards cleared play after the match review panel reprimanded him for his high bump on Carlton’s Levi Casboult.
The loss of the Swans best forward this season to a knee injury (Fibula soreness) is a massive blow but Longmire remains up-beat about his team’s hopes of winning through to their second Grand Final in a row.
The Barometer - Prelim Finals week
The loss of the Swans best forward this season to a knee injury (Fibula soreness) is a massive blow but Longmire remains up-beat about his team’s hopes of winning through to their second Grand Final in a row.
The Barometer - Prelim Finals week
“That’s what AFL football is you always get thrown up challenges,” Longmire said.
“We’ve had another big one this week without two players (Tippett and Mitchell) but that’s what’s ahead of us and that’s what we’ll cope with.
“I’m really pleased with the resilience of our playing group that’s one of the really good things that has come out of the challenges thrown at us.”
Tippett is a chance to play in the season finale should the Swans beat the Dockers but Mitchell is out for the year and will have surgery on his injured ankle.
While Longmire would love to have Tippett in his team to fly to Perth he knows they won eight games and drew with Fremantle in round eight without him.
“We’ve had another big one this week without two players (Tippett and Mitchell) but that’s what’s ahead of us and that’s what we’ll cope with.
“I’m really pleased with the resilience of our playing group that’s one of the really good things that has come out of the challenges thrown at us.”
Tippett is a chance to play in the season finale should the Swans beat the Dockers but Mitchell is out for the year and will have surgery on his injured ankle.
While Longmire would love to have Tippett in his team to fly to Perth he knows they won eight games and drew with Fremantle in round eight without him.
“This year has been about making sure we adapt and being able to cover for players,” Longmire said.
“Adapt our style of play and adapt our personnel to this point we’ve been able to do it OK the challenge is to keep going with that.
“From the weekend our pressure was good and our two way transition was really strong. We have to make sure we maintain that this week."
“Adapt our style of play and adapt our personnel to this point we’ve been able to do it OK the challenge is to keep going with that.
“From the weekend our pressure was good and our two way transition was really strong. We have to make sure we maintain that this week."
One player almost certain to return is Ben McGlynn who missed the semi final win over Carlton with a calf strain he looks the logical replacement for Mitchell
“His plan is to run tomorrow and if he does that he will come to Perth and be available for selection,” Longmire said.
“He should be available which gives us more run as well.”
Longmire has the choice between another tall or a small as a replacement for Tippett.
Big men are in short supply but Lewis Roberts-Thomson played well in Sunday’s NEAFL Grand final playing for the Swans reserves.
“I don’t know if he will play this week but he certainly played 80 minutes of footy he looked to be moving OK and pulled up well this morning,” Longmire said.
The Swans coach may look at playing another small player like Brandon Jack or Jed Lamb with speed sure to be a huge factor on the wide open spaces of Pattersons Stadium.
All three of the remaining big men Shane Mumford, Mike Pyke and Jesse White have played lots of football up forward this year.
The only time Sydney and Fremantle have met this season was in round eight when the Dockers came from 27 points down early in the last quarter to force a draw.
“We look at that game but we know game styles and personnel change dramatically certainly we’ll be different,” Longmire said.
“We look at last week’s game that they played against Geelong and focus mainly on that.
“It will be a hostile environment in Perth and we have to embrace it and enjoy that challenge.
“His plan is to run tomorrow and if he does that he will come to Perth and be available for selection,” Longmire said.
“He should be available which gives us more run as well.”
Longmire has the choice between another tall or a small as a replacement for Tippett.
Big men are in short supply but Lewis Roberts-Thomson played well in Sunday’s NEAFL Grand final playing for the Swans reserves.
“I don’t know if he will play this week but he certainly played 80 minutes of footy he looked to be moving OK and pulled up well this morning,” Longmire said.
The Swans coach may look at playing another small player like Brandon Jack or Jed Lamb with speed sure to be a huge factor on the wide open spaces of Pattersons Stadium.
All three of the remaining big men Shane Mumford, Mike Pyke and Jesse White have played lots of football up forward this year.
The only time Sydney and Fremantle have met this season was in round eight when the Dockers came from 27 points down early in the last quarter to force a draw.
“We look at that game but we know game styles and personnel change dramatically certainly we’ll be different,” Longmire said.
“We look at last week’s game that they played against Geelong and focus mainly on that.
“It will be a hostile environment in Perth and we have to embrace it and enjoy that challenge.
“We’ve got some players who have played a lot of finals footy and we’ve got some blokes who’ve played just one game of finals footy.
“It’s about embracing that and accepting the challenge for what it is and grabbing it with both hands.
