THE EXPOSURE of Tom Mitchell, Luke Parker and Harry Cunningham to senior midfield roles was the main positive Sydney Swans coach John Longmire took out of Thursday night's NAB Challenge win.
Longmire started the young trio at the centre bounce in the 40-point victory over Greater Western Sydney, which produced impressive results.
Mitchell and Parker were the Swans' highest possession winners and claimed five clearances each while Cunningham, having played just six AFL games, had 16 disposals and kicked three goals.
Longmire said it was that sort of experience, coupled with that obtained by the players who stepped in when a number of Swans went down with injuries in 2013, that would inject more flexibility into his team.
"We thought that last year one of the great bonuses of having a couple of injuries was being able to play more of those younger kids and we think we exposed a few, and we exposed a few more tonight," Longmire said after the game at Canberra's StarTrack Oval.
"We deliberately went into tonight to try and extend our midfield brigade again and introduce some more players to the centre square and we did that.
"Having young players like that exposed on the inside and putting some of our more experienced players in different positions as well, we want to get some more flexibility into our team and introduce those younger players to that centre bounce role.
"Tommy Mitchell is a very good player and Luke Parker was really good and to have those two young midfielders as well as Harry Cunningham bobbing up and kicking three goals is good for that midfield group."
The Swans' three big men – Tom Derickx, Sam Naismith and Toby Nankervis – were also given experience in key roles with Mike Pyke out.
Longmire said while there had been questions over the Swans' ruck depth following the loss of Shane Mumford to the Giants, he believed all three "had different strengths we can use at different times".
Rhyce Shaw picked up 20 possessions and kicked a goal less than six months after he had an artificial ligament placed in his knee following an ACL rupture in round 22.
Longmire said Shaw's speedy return was a credit to his determination and professionalism.
"If you know Rhyce Shaw, nothing much surprises you," he said.
"He's had a great pre-season, he didn't go away over the break, I think he got married and had about three days off. I don't think his wife was too happy about that.
"He just trained so hard over that off-season to get himself right and he's given himself every possible chance to have a reasonable season this year because of what he did in his off-season and what he did over his Christmas break."
Sam Reid kicked three goals but Longmire suggest he may not remain in the forward line given the number of goalkickers to come into the side.
"He played well tonight and we like him as a forward but we know he can play other positions as well," he said.
"I think everyone forgets about him to some extent with just how important he is to our structure.
"He's a really disciplined young player, not just a talented player but he's really disciplined.
"He knows our structures inside out and I thought he showed those things tonight really well and we'll get some other boys back next week and see how they go in the front half."
Pyke, Franklin, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Lewis Jetta are likely to come in to face West Coast at Blacktown on February 27 if they get through training this week.
