A STOCKPILE of ruckmen will come in handy for the Sydney Swans this week, with coach John Longmire forced to find a replacement for Kurt Tippett ahead of Sunday's clash with Melbourne star Max Gawn.
With his number one big man ruled out for up to six weeks with an injured hamstring tendon, Longmire needs a partner to help Callum Sinclair combat the in-form Demon.
Toby Nankervis has played one game this season and just six in total, but has been in consistent form in the NEAFL, while the highly rated Sam Naismith has played just one game for the Swans in four seasons, his last appearance coming in round 23, 2014.
Tom Derickx is Longmire's third option, but the 28-year-old played the last of his 15 senior games in round 13 last year and has been overlooked for Nankervis since being dropped after that match.
Longmire said on Wednesday that Gawn is arguably the most in-form ruckman in the competition.
"He's had a great season to date, and 27 possessions and three goals on the weekend (against Collingwood) shows that he's a really good player," he said.
"He's a very good runner and a very good athlete, and he's playing with great confidence.
"We're really happy with Callum Sinclair being able to ruck the entire second half (last week) unchanged, but to do that week in, week out is pretty tough."
"Kurt (Tippett) has obviously had a fantastic season to date and he'll be missed, but we've got three ruckmen that have played senior football and there's no doubt those guys will play a big part going forward."
Forward Gary Rohan dispelled any doubts over his fitness when he trained at the SCG with the rest of his teammates despite a scare with his hamstring against the Giants, and Longmire said the 25-year-old should be right to face the Dees.
Veteran defender Ted Richards is also available for selection after missing the past three games with concussion symptoms, but Longmire hinted that the 33-year-old is likely to come back through the NEAFL.
Richards hasn't played since he was knocked out after landing heavily in the Swans' round nine win over Hawthorn at the MCG.
"He's missed three weeks but he got injured in the first quarter, so it's almost four weeks of football," Longmire said.
"It's been a period that he's missed, so that will come into it as well."
Longmire said luckless forward Sam Reid would have played his first senior game for the season against the Demons, but he re-inured his calf in the NEAFL on Sunday.
Reid has kicked two goals for the Swans' reserves, but strained his calf early in the last quarter and will miss at least the next month of footy.
"It's unfortunate for Sam (Reid), he was playing very well on the weekend," he said.
"It's a setback for him, but he'll go back to the drawing board and hopefully contribute to us at the back end of the year.
"He's still a very important player for us."
