Sydney coach John Longmire has targeted his team’s ongoing commitment to their stifling defence as the the key to keeping their AFL hot streak going against a resurgent Carlton.
The pacesetting Swans are the fifth heaviest scoring team, but boast easily the best defensive record in the competition.
They have conceded well over 100 points less than any other team and 200 fewer than all but two sides and are allowing just under 70 points a game.
Asked how he can keep Sydney up at Etihad Stadium on Sunday after eight straight wins, Longmire pinpointed their defence.
“We focus enormously on our defensive aspects of the game and we’ll continue to do that,” Longmire told reporters on Friday.
“A real key indicator for us is to make sure that, defensively, we are strong.
“We think we’ve changed a few aspects of our game over the last 12 to 18 months – we keep evolving as the game does.
“But one thing we are really certain of is that we want to maintain our defensive aspect and it’s not just our back six, but it’s an all over ground defence.”
A victory on Sunday will allow the Swans to equal their longest winning streak of nine games since relocating to Sydney.
Longmire recognised the threat posed by a final-chasing Blues side that will this week regain the services of established stars Jarrad Waite and Kade Simpson.
“Carlton have been able to win three of the last four with some injuries and they have been able to do it pretty well, and they get two absolute quality players back this week,” Longmire said.
“They are as strong as they have been over the last month and I’m certain they will be giving a really good account of themselves and they will be having a real crack.”
Longmire expected ruckman Shane Mumford to pull up well enough after training on Friday to play on the weekend.
Mumford missed last week’s win over Gold Coast with bone bruising of a knee.
He should replace injured forward Sam Reid.
With Reid out, Longmire suggested Mumford, fellow ruckman Mike Pyke, Adam Goodes and Lewis Roberts-Thomson would share the key forward workload against the Blues.
Longmire paid tribute to the professionalism of forward-turned midfielder Ryan O’Keefe, who will play his 250th game on Sunday.
“He continues to improve. He’s one of the most driven players I think I’ve seen in football,” Longmire said.
