SYDNEY Swans debutant Aliir Aliir looks set for a bright future in his team's defence after receiving a ringing endorsement from teammate Dane Rampe on Monday.

Aliir stepped in for injured veteran Ted Richards against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday and more than held his own in the Swans' hard-fought three-point win at the Gabba.

The 21-year-old was composed in defence alongside fellow youngsters Callum Mills and Zak Jones, and Rampe was impressed with the way Aliir handled himself under pressure against the Lions.

"He was really good, really vocal and I guess that could have been the risk with 'Teddy' (Ted Richards) out, having that steady head (missing), but to his credit he came out and performed his role," Rampe said.

"The onus is on everyone out there, it doesn't matter if you're Aliir in your first game or 'Macca' (Jarrad McVeigh), you have to be voicing and directing the troops.

"Especially being in his home state, a lot of the anxieties and nervousness comes from performing in front of your friends and family, and I think now that's out of the way we'll only see him grow and improve from there.

"Having him out there was really special for the boys, he's a much loved member of the group."

There was controversy late in the match when a stretcher was called onto the ground after Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair went down close to his side's goal square after injuring his knee.

Sinclair eventually ran from the field without the stretcher but the umpires stopped play with the ball inside the Lions' attacking 50, and Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch voiced his displeasure at the decision post-match.

The AFL has since conceded that the decision to halt play was incorrect.

Rampe – who was in the Lions' goal square at the time – refused to enter the debate surrounding the incident, saying that players couldn't afford to worry about umpiring decisions at any stage of a match.

"The call was made and the umpires did what they felt necessary," he said.

"We were a little bit confused when the whistle went but obviously the game stopped and they made whatever call they made.

"It is what it is."

Sinclair took part in the Swans' recovery session on Monday along with Nick Smith (knee), who was a late withdrawal from the Lions' clash after pulling up sore following a training run on Saturday. 

Both are expected to assessed later in the week before the Swans take on Essendon at the SCG on Saturday.