Sydney coach John Longmire was impressed by the way veteran Luke Parker was able to return to the senior side, albeit as the sub.
Parker hadn't been sighted in 2024 after breaking his arm in the pre-season as well as spending time in the VFL.
However, the veteran was a late inclusion following the Isaac Heeney one-match suspension and took most of his opportunities, leading the club to a 79-point victory over North Melbourne.
Parker was injected into the game after Justin McInerney went down with a suspected poster cruciate ligament (PCL) injury during the third term.
Midfield
Disposals
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โHe did such a great body of work whilst he's been out suspended. He worked as hard as any player I've ever seen through that period and did it all off his own back,โ Longmire said post-game.
โHe worked so hard and had great confidence to come back in and make an impact.
โHe made the call that he wanted to get back in amongst it, and to his great credit he was super, fantastic.โ
Captain Callum Mills also returned to play following multiple setbacks from the pre-season, including his shoulder injury and calf issues.
Mills was still finding his feet after missing the entirety of the season to date, collecting 12 touches and kicking a welcome-back goal early in the fourth quarter.
However, the news wasn't as positive for McInerney, who has quickly become a key cog for the Swans in 2024.
"It was unusual. It didn't look as though there was a lot in it, just looked like his leg collapsed a little bit," Longmire said.
"We'll have to wait and see, the early diagnosis is a PCL.
"I'm not sure what that means, he'll go into a brace in the short term and just see what happens from there."
Sydney can expect to be without the 23-year-old for the short term but will welcome back Heeney next week when they face Brisbane at the Gabba.
