‘We’re ready to go’: Swans boosted by Rampe return for Magpies showdown
The Swans will welcome former captain Dane Rampe back from injury on Friday night against Collingwood at the SCG as the team looks to bounce back from Saturday’s disastrous 112-point defeat against Port Adelaide.
The Swans have won just one from their last five and are desperate to get their season back on track against the Magpies with just three more games of the regular season remaining.
Defender Lewis Melican has not fully recovered from a tight hamstring, forcing Nick Blakey to remain in the back pocket as opposed to his favoured position on the halfback flank.
The return of Rampe after two games out could not be better timed for the Swans, who looked completely lost in defence against Port Adelaide without the veteran’s leadership across the back line.
The Swans have resisted the urge to move Isaac Heeney from the midfield into the forward line in the search for goals.
Instead, they have gone with the experience of Luke Parker to plug the significant hole left by injured small forward Tom Papley who averages 1.7 goals a game. Papley is likely to return in time for finals in September.
The return of Dane Rampe is perfectly timed for the SwansCredit: Getty
Parker returns to the starting line-up at half-forward after being named as a sub in the previous two games against Port and the Western Bulldogs.
Key forward Joel Amartey returns to the side after being managed against Port Adelaide and is a direct replacement for ruckman Peter Ladhams, who endured a difficult day at Adelaide Oval in the forward line.
Captain Callum Mills will be desperately hoping to find form on the wing, after starting last week at half-forward.
Utilities Caiden Cleary and Braeden Campbell return to the side on the bench to give fresh legs to a Swans side that has looked increasingly fatigued in the last six rounds.
After returning from Adelaide, coach John Longmire gave the team Monday and Tuesday off to recover mentally and physically. Midfielder James Rowbottom admitted on Wednesday that the break was much needed, with the Swans at a low ebb after enduring three successive defeats.
“Based on how the boys have rocked up today [Wednesday], it’s been very necessary,” he said. “Everyone was pretty exhausted physically and mentally, so two days off is a great refresher for us and we’re ready to go.”
Collingwood are currently 11th in the ladder, are coming off two successive victories against Carlton and Richmond.
The Magpies will arrive in Sydney without star midfielder Jordan De Goey who suffered from a high-grade hamstring strain last Saturday against Carlton.
Fellow premiership winner Tom Mitchell will also miss the rest of the season after having his appendix removed recently and has also dealt with a foot injury.
The Swans last played Collingwood in round one at the MCG winning 102-69, driven by standout performances from Sydney’s midfield of Errol Gulden, Heeney and Warner.
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