WHEN you’re playing against Nic Naitanui, breaking even in the ruck is a big ask.
But John Longmire will be hoping he at least gets a better performance from his big men than the last time West Coast and Sydney met.
When the Eagles broke the Swans’ eight-match winning streak in Round 17 last year with a 52-point thumping, Naitanui and Callum Sinclair dominated Mike Pyke and Toby Nankervis.
Naitanui (41 hit outs) and Sinclair (29) beat Pyke and Nankervis by 70-21 and helped deliver a feast for their talented group of midfielders.
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READ NOWThings will be different in more ways than one at the SCG.
Sinclair will be wearing red and white and he will be working alongside one of the most improved ruckmen in the AFL, Kurt Tippett. Not only will Naitanui be without Sinclair he will also be missing Sinclair’s replacement Scott Lycett who is out suspended.
Swans co-captain Kieren Jack and his fellow midfielders couldn’t be happier with Sinclair’s return to action at the SCG.
“Callum’s had a big impact quickly,” Jack said.
“He wanted to buy in. He was really keen to come into our system and learn he wanted to be part of success. He is a great character around the footy club. The impact he’s had with Tippett in the ruck has been really influential. He’s a really good ruckman but I think his ability up forward is very impressive. With Kurt Tippett we feel like we’re going to get our fair share of ball use.”
The Eagles have brought in Fraser McInnes as a replacement for Lycett and importantly have Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis back in the midfield.
“He’s a spiritual leader around the coal face,” Jack said.
“He gets the ball out to their quick blokes. We can nullify his ball use and get Joey Kennedy and Parks going to work on him. You have to back your players in to beat them.”
Jack and his fellow midfielders will also be renewing acquaintances with former team mate Lewis Jetta who like Sinclair will be going against his former team for the first time.
“I’ll have some conversations out on the field,” Jack said.
“I still get on well with him. It will be funny seeing him in a West Coast Jumper especially out on the SCG. At the end of the day he’s the opposition. I might try to get him to follow me in the pre-season like he did a couple of years ago. I might cross paths with him at some stage but I’ll make sure I don’t let him get goal side of me.”
The Eagles haven’t played at the SCG since 2010 and haven’t won there since 1999.