SYDNEY Swans ruckman Kurt Tippett has put his hand up to for this week's crucial top-eight clash with North Melbourne after training strongly at the SCG on Tuesday.
Tippett was in All Australian contention before injuring himself in the Swans' round 12 loss to Greater Western Sydney, and hasn't taken the field since having surgery to repair his hamstring tendon the following week.
In sunny conditions, the 29-year-old warmed up with the Swans' main group and looked untroubled through a host of running and agility work, before practising his ruck taps and recovery at ground level with rookie big man Kyle Galloway.
The 164-gamer rejoined the main group for full ground drills and contested work, and looks certain to be picked for the trip to Tasmania if he pulls up well from the team's final session on Thursday morning.
Tippett spent the first part of the year as the club's number one ruckman, but is likely to spend more time as a permanent forward if he returns against the Kangaroos, and in the Swans' final regular season game against Richmond in round 23.
Young ruck prospects Sam Naismith and Toby Nankervis have performed well in the absence of Tippett and Callum Sinclair (knee), meaning coach John Longmire could have the luxury of easing his star back as a deep forward before the finals.
Tippett played as a deep forward in match simulation drills on Tuesday with Lance Franklin working up the ground, and youngster George Hewett said his return will add another dimension to an already dynamic forward line alongside Franklin, Gary Rohan and young gun Isaac Heeney.
"He's trained with the main group for the past two weeks and he's looking really good, so we'll see how he pulls up on Thursday," Hewett said.
"We're all pretty versatile and I think you have to be in the AFL these days.
"We've also got Xavier Richards down there who is quite quick and brings that element of surprise as well."
Hewett said star forward Franklin deserves all the praise he gets for his brilliant goalkicking feats, but said the three-time Coleman medallist is more than a talented forward.
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"His leadership has been huge this year, especially seeing as we've got such a young forward line," he said.
"He's been massive from that perspective and especially for me. He's probably the best bloke to give you information because he's done it all, so he's been awesome.
"He's given me on-field support and just told me to keep it simple and be consistent."
Midfielders Kieren Jack and Tom Mitchell, young stars Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney, and veteran defender Heath Grundy were on light duties on Tuesday, while athletic forward Sam Reid did some stationary ball work with his right achilles still bandaged after surgery on the weekend.
