Heeney. Warner. Parker. Mills. Rowbottom. Gulden. Adams. Jordon. Papley. Adams.
Headaches, headaches and more headaches.
What does John Longmire do at the selection table?
Isaac Heeney is set to return from his one-match suspension. Captain Callum Mills is finally fit. Luke Parker has returned from the VFL abyss. Chad Warner is dominating. Errol Gulden is Errol Gulden.
And what about the roles James Rowbottom and Tom Papley are doing?
Not to mention the injection of Taylor Adams - who left Collingwood for more midfield time - and James Jordon, who's locked down a run-with role at his second club.
The Swans will be without Mr Fix-It Justin McInerney for at least two weeks after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which ironically might ease the selection worries.
So for the time being, a straight swap for Heeney and McInerney appears to be the only change for the club's Round 19 clash against Brisbane.
But what will their midfield mix look like? And how about in September?
Coach John Longmire would be derelict in his duties to remove Heeney from the midfield despite being listed as an All-Australian half-forward in 2022.
The same goes for Warner and Rowbottom.
The Sydney squeeze could see Mills head to a predominantly back-half role, which could push either Matt Roberts or Braeden Campbell to the reserves or the sub.
Parker could be promoted from the 23rd man and play as a pressure forward, alongside Adams and Papley, who will only pinch-hit in the midfield when needed. Or, could remain as the sub, given the two-goal, 13-disposal performance from a measly 38 per cent game time raising eyebrows.
The shuffle may also mean that Gulden plays invariably on the wing, with Campbell or Jordon standing opposite him.
Does that mean the ever-reliable Robbie Fox makes way? Or will it be heartbreak for Adams once again?
The old adage that with player availability comes selection headaches is true, which is not always a positive scenario to live in.
The juggling act is crucial to a team's success and could make or break when it matters most.
Think 2022 when veteran Sam Reid was persisted with in the grand final despite being subbed out the week earlier with an adductor issue.
Or Collingwood in 2018 when they opted to leave now-captain Darcy Moore out of the decider, which as a result, saw Eagles champion Josh Kennedy capitalise with three goals.
It happens.
The first-placed Swans have survived and thrived without the likes of Parker and Mills, who have been two stalwarts of the club for nearly a decade or more.
And heading into the final six weeks of the home-and-away season, Longmire best get his troops in order or fear the smell of blood in the water.
Sydney looked invincible (and still does, sort of) but dropped two games to Fremantle and St Kilda, albeit by a cumulative margin of three points.
However, clubs are detecting ways to strip their game away from them: the Dockers took 105 marks; the Saints, 126.
Both times Sydney lost the disposal count and were matched in clearances or bettered.
Denying prime ball movers like Warner, Gulden and Heeney the chance of having the Sherrin in their hands is key to undermining the Sydney swarm whilst also forcing them to defend.
Against Fremantle, Heeney recorded 8.2 rating points (Champion Data's most definitive statistic to measure influence on a contest) and was quelled by Nat Fyfe. Jeremy Sharp was sent to Gulden as a run-with role, resulting in a measly 5.5 rating points.
Their lowest returns in 2024.
Warner (16.4) got off the leash but was kept goalless for just the second time this year.
A clear blueprint for the opposition.
However, Longmire mustn't worry too much about what his rivals do but better yet make sure his house is in order.
And that starts with team selection.
