Sinclair ready to step up for AFL Swans

Sydney AFL recruit Callum Sinclair is ready to emerge form the vast shadows cast by two of the great ruckmen of the modern era.

Sinclair played 29 games in three seasons at West Coast before being traded to Sydney for Lewis Jetta in late 2015.

The 200cm, 26-year-old ruckman tallied just nine senior appearances in his first two seasons, when the Dean Cox-Nic Naitanui ruck tandem was creating havoc.

In his final year in Perth, Sinclair played 20 games, including the grand final loss to Hawthorn.

With the Swans’ 2012 premiership-winning ruckman Mike Pyke retiring after last season, Sinclair has the chance to establish himself in Sydney as part of another ruck duo, but one in which he could play a more prominent part.

He has been earmarked to share the ruck workload with Kurt Tippett, who also will spend time as the Swans’ deep forward.

Sinclair said he might be ready to be a “big bopper”, but stopped short of staking a public claim to be the Swans’ leading ruckman.

“It’s been about 50-50 (ruck time between Kurt and myself) over the NAB Cup period,” said Sinclair, who will make his Swans debut against Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday.

“But whoever starts and finishes a game, it won’t really matter.

“I don’t really know. We’ll call Tippo number one (ruckman).”

Sinclair paid tribute to Cox and Naitanui for the help he gave them during his time with West Coast.

“Coxy and Nic were terrific footballers, but also great mates as well,” he said.

“But to be under their tutelage for three seasons, it’s something I cherish and I took a lot out of.

“Hopefully, it’s the start of a new chapter with all that experience I got, so they were great for me.”

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