ADAM GOODES faces another week in the NEAFL after Sydney Swans coach John Longmire confirmed the veteran would not travel to Perth for Saturday’s clash against Fremantle.
After gathering 30 disposals and booting three goals for the club's NEAFL side in a big loss to the Giants last weekend, Goodes could have been considered for Saturday night's game of the round against the Dockers.
But it seems game time is most important for the dual Brownlow medallist, with Longmire confirming Goodes would again line up with the NEAFL team when they take on Gold Coast in Mackay on Anzac Day.
“He’s not playing in Perth this week,” Longmire said on Wednesday.
“We didn’t discuss specifically how long he would play reserves, we just wanted to be sure he was in good stead. He had a good hit-out last week and he’ll have a good one this week."
“He will get another opportunity to work on form and fitness.”
Goodes will at least face a shorter flight than his senior teammates, with a trip to Mackay taking less than half the time it will take the Swans to get to Perth.
The two-time premiership star started to cramp towards the end of last week's hit-out and spent the final quarter in the forward line, so another full game on ball will no doubt help his cause for a recall.
“It would be good to take another step up from what he did last week,” Longmire said.
“He felt good after the game and it would be good if he can get another one this week.”
Goodes will line-up against a host of young no-names from around Queensland.
Aside from using listed players to fill its NEAFL team, the Suns turn to their Academy and the Southport reserves for top-up players.
Curtis Marsden, Robert Blood, Jarrod Butler, Daniel Charlesworth, Connor West, Kyle Emery and Joel Karwan are all teenagers, all played NEAFL for the Suns this season and all could play on the same field as Goodes on Saturday.