The Swans are all but locked into top spot on the ladder, but with a host a in-form players looking to keep their spot in the side through what could be an illustrious run to a premiership, senior coach John Longmire faces major selection headaches in the closing stretch of the home & away season.
Captain Callum Mills and star veteran Luke Parker have recently returned from their long-term injury (Mills) and suspension (Parker), but have joined a red-hot team that seemingly doesn't require any personnel boost.
That being said, they are clearly in their side's best 22 players and arguably among their top 10, meaning a couple of unlucky role-players will have to be squeezed out.
Mills and All-Australian squad candidates James Rowbottom and Justin McInerney will all miss this week's clash with Brisbane at the Gabba after pulling up sore from the win over North Melbourne last weekend, giving a couple of fringe members the chance to potentially stake their claim in the side ahead of finals.
Isaac Heeney is returning from his one-week ban, while Harry Cunningham, Corey Warner, Caleb Mitchell and Aaron Francis are all included in the side or extended bench, and will be eager to stay.
Enduring mere soreness, Mills and Rowbottom are both eyeing off a Round 20 return against the Bulldogs, while McInerney faces a stressful recovery on his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury which the club hopes to be relatively short-term.
Hear from Swans senior coach John Longmire as he goes over the three changes for this weeks clash with Brisbane
Team selection, presented by @QBEaus pic.twitter.com/8xkywlahVn
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) July 18, 2024
"[Mills] just pulled up a little bit sore from last week so we decided not to push him too hard this week, but he should be fine and ready to play next week,” coach John Longmire said ahead of selection on Thursday.
“We'll give him this week off, keep training him, making sure with the build-up to the preparation he's had that it continues tin the upward motion that it has been.
“[Rowbottom] had a knock to the cheekbone so is a little bit too much of a risk for this week, so we'll see how he is for next week.
“McInerney is going well. He's in a brace for two weeks. We're really hopeful that he comes out of that in good nick in a couple of weeks and we'll make an assessment from there.”
It is an ideal problem to have, with no need for Longmire to motivate his players to push themselves this Sunday when they meet the Lions at the Gabba.
But with multiple All-Australian squad candidates waiting on the wings to be included again, some tough conversations may take place over the coming weeks.
