Sydney’s senior coach, John Longmire, says one of the greatest challenges that face the Swans this Saturday is the fact that it’s never easy playing a good team at their home ground.
Last time the Swans came face-to-face with the Cats they were on their own turf and they let the home win slip through their fingers.
This time around the Swans know what they’re up against and our well prepared for the test.
“It’s a great challenge playing Geelong in Geelong,” Longmire told www.sydneyswans.com.au
“They’re a really really good team and good teams are usually hard to beat on their home ground. I think there is no secret to it other than the fact that they’re a really well drilled and talented team that believes in each other.
“They’ve played a lot of football and they’ve got younger kids coming in that have really added another string to their bow.”
However, Longmire is confident that the Swans can return the favour and take home the 21-point win, which is exactly what the Cats did to the Swans earlier this year at the SCG in Round 4.
“We believe we can play a competitive brand of football this week that will give us a chance of winning against one of the best teams in the competition, but we know we have to be at our best to do it and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing.”
Ahead of Round 4 this year Longmire was concerned about Tom Hawkins’ magic boot in the goal square, however this time the senior coach seems to be more concerned about Geelong’s latest goal kicking machine, Joel Selwood.
“Yeah, he got us here last time and he’s added the goal kicking ability to his game even more so now, so he’s not only a brilliant contested ball winner, leader and a player that does things when the team needs him, he also has the ability to kick goals and that’s a challenge for our midfielders.”
“He played really well against us last time and we need to try and reduce his influence this week.”
Despite the Swans losing a number of key players from their frontline Longmire ensures that their newest addition from Adelaide, Kurt Tippett, has successfully filled this gap for the Swans.
“Yeah we’ve been so pleased (with Tippett),” Longmire said.
“I mean to lose Adam Goodes, Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, they’re three key forwards for us as well as our leading goal kicker from last year, Lewis Jetter, has provided some challenges for us.”
“Obviously to get Kurt Tippet into the team, who’s continued to get better and provided us with a real marking target in our front half, has been so important over the back part of the year.
“He’s such a big bloke who marks the ball so strongly.
“I’m sure he’ll be tested out well this week against Geelong’s defence who work so well together (led by) Lonergan and Taylor but we’ve been really pleased with the way he’s been going at his business and he works so hard at his game and he gets rewarded.”
