SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire has been assured by the AFL the surface of ANZ Stadium will be vastly improved for this weekend's qualifying final against Fremantle.
Longmire was spotted taking a close look at the surface of the Olympic stadium before last Saturday's narrow loss to Richmond.
Part of the issue is that a retractable grandstand covers part of the grassed area for rugby league matches, while there has also been record August rainfall in the area.
But Longmire has been assured it will be in a better condition for this week's game.
"We've been notified by the AFL that they're going to make some changes to that surface, those two patches, which is a good thing," he said.
"Obviously people in Melbourne didn't understand the amount of rain that was around last week and those patches, certainly on the sideline for the rugby league on the Thursday, were soft and you'd like them better than that.
"The AFL has acknowledged that and those changes will be made this week, which is a good thing for both teams."
Longmire also stressed his side was thrilled to be hosting a qualifying final on the opening weekend of September, whether it was at ANZ Stadium or at their more regular home ground of the SCG.
The Swans played Carlton in a semi-final front of 37,980 fans there last year and a preliminary final against Collingwood before 57,156 supporters the previous season, winning both games.
"We’ve played a couple of finals out there in recent years and I think they've been OK," Longmire said.
"We’re playing finals. It's a fantastic opportunity. To be honest, it doesn't worry me too much where it is."
Apart from the stadium's surface, Longmire's principal on-field concern this week is the fitness of some key Swans.
Lance Franklin and Mike Pyke will play after both were rested against Richmond, while there are still question marks over Josh Kennedy (hamstring), Ben McGlynn (calf) and particularly Craig Bird (knee).
Longmire still feels his side is far better placed than this time last year, when he said they were "a little bit buggered going in", ultimately bowing out to Fremantle in a preliminary final in Perth.
And he wouldn't have an issue recalling all five injured players this week.
"Not really. Pyke and Lance only missed one game," he said.
"Benny McGlynn, whilst he's missed three, he's naturally really fit and Josh Kennedy's only missed the two.
"It's not a huge issue."
The Dockers produced some extraordinary pressure in the first half of their preliminary final victory over the Swans last year, building a 39-point lead at half-time before easing to a 25-point triumph.
It included a second term when the Swans kicked one point and Freo kicked 5.2 and Longmire was asked on Monday if that had been the most intense pressure his side had ever faced.
"Certainly there were some technical things we could've done better and they certainly applied an enormous amount of pressure," he said.
"But we think we apply a fair bit of pressure as well."
The last time the teams met, in round five this year, the Swans gained a small measure of revenge, laying 102 tackles to Fremantle's 66 en route to a 17-point victory.
