SYDNEY forward Sam Reid will miss the next two months of footy after suffering a leg injury late in Saturday night's win over Greater Western Sydney at the SCG.
Reid damaged a quad in the last term of the clash and the Swans are initially looking at being without the athletic big man for at least eight weeks.
The news is shattering for the 26-year-old, who played his first game of the year against the Giants after experiencing some hamstring soreness on the eve of the season.
Reid missed the whole of the 2016 season with various injuries, mainly calf and Achilles issues, but kicked 30 goals from 22 games last year.
Sydney coach John Longmire said the news was particularly disappointing for Reid, who had an injury-free pre-season until his hamstring problem surfaced before round one.
"He was good for us in the pre-season and on the weekend and he's a critical player for us, and no doubt he'll contribute when he gets back," he said.
"But we'll adapt and adjust and come up with a new tactic, and a new player to fill that role.
"That's what AFL footy is all about and we saw it on the weekend with the Geelong-West Coast game.
"It can be a battle of attrition at times and that's why the teams that are able to deal with those challenges throughout the course of the year are the ones that play finals."
The news was better for Reid's teammate Lewis Melican, who injured his hamstring against GWS virtually at the same time as Reid, with the defender only likely be sidelined for the next fortnight.
Longmire must now assess his options at both ends of the ground for Saturday's match against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, and he has a number of replacements to look at.
Darcy Cameron seems the most logical choice to come in for Reid and make his debut, with the West Australian capable of helping Callum Sinclair in the ruck, but also mobile enough to give the Swans a tall target in attack alongside superstar Lance Franklin.
The 22-year-old showed some promising signs during the JLT Community Series when he carried the ruck duties in the absence of Sinclair (ankle) and Sam Naismith (knee).
"We could go with that model again and we may turn to that," Longmire said.
"He's been playing quite well in the ruck and marking the ball around the ground, and we know he's capable forward, so that's certainly an option for us.
"Sinclair kicked his goals on the weekend pushing forward (from the ruck) and we're really happy with his form, so we feel as though we've got a number of different ways we can go."
Aliir Aliir would have been an ideal man to step in for either player given his ability to play a variety of positions, but he only played 60 minutes in the NEAFL against GWS after missing five weeks with an ankle injury and needs more footy before he can press for a return at senior level.
Speedy midfielder Zak Jones (calf) ran on Tuesday and is expected to train fully on Thursday, so he could be a chance to face the Dogs after he was a late withdrawal from the Swans' loss to Port Adelaide in round two.
Given the Dogs' lack of height in attack, Nic Newman could slot into defence or give the Swans another midfield option, while midfielders Dan Robinson and Ben Ronke, along with defenders Harry Marsh and Colin O'Riordan, also impressed in the NEAFL last week.
