SYDNEY Swans big man Kurt Tippett will return for the Swans' important clash with North Melbourne in Hobart next week if he can prove his fitness at training.
After the Swans consolidated second spot on the ladder with a 70-point belting of St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, coach John Longmire said he expected to have Tippett at his disposal against the Kangaroos.
Tippett hasn't played since suffering a hamstring tendon injury two months ago, and Longmire said that given his lack of match fitness, he would play predominantly in attack and lend mere support in the ruck.
"He's trained all of this week and got through training and pulled up well, so we expect him to train next week and be available," Longmire told reporters post-match.
The runaway win over the Saints enhances the Swans' hopes of a top-two finish, but Longmire wasn't interested in anything other than the clash with North Melbourne.
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Asked if he felt his side was as well placed as it had ever been at this stage of a season in his tenure, Longmire was dismissive.
"I don't think about it at all. It's not relevant, because what's happened previously is not relevant and we don't know what's going to happen in the future," he said.
"I live in the moment, and that's what I worry about.
"We can always get better. There will be some things we need to work on.
WATCH: John Longmire's full post-match press conference
"We saw North Melbourne today got off to a slow start but (in) the final three quarters (they) played pretty well …
"It's important to beat North Melbourne this week. That's as far as I'm looking."
Longmire was pleased with his team's "powerful" effort to kick 17 of the last 21 goals after trailing by seven points midway through the second term.
He praised Lance Franklin's six-goal effort as "pretty handy", and was also happy with the continued development of young key defender Aliir Aliir.
"(Aliir) has been terrific," Longmire said.
"He's competing well, which is the mainstay of any defender, and he's been really composed with the ball. He made some smart decisions coming off his man tonight and helping out teammates."
Aliir even managed to outmark St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt on the last line of defence, an effort that impressed his coach.
"It's probably the brashness of youth at times – sometimes it can get you into trouble, sometimes it works out all right," Longmire said.
"It's good to have the confidence to do that.
"Playing alongside (Heath) Grundy and (Nick) Smith and (Dane) Rampe certainly helped."
