Sydney key forward Sam Reid is set to join older brother Ben as an AFL swingman, with Swans coach John Longmire revealing he will also use him down back during the coming season.
The 22-year-old premiership player has been used almost exclusively in a key forward role in his four seasons of senior football, kicking 61 goals.in 56 games.
Reid was signed to a five year contract back in December 2011.
Sibling Ben, 24 was picked up by Collingwood as a forward, but won All Australian honours as a defender in 2011.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley switched him to centre half forward halfway through last season and he kicked 25 goals in his last 13 games.
Sam Reid spent a little time in defence in Sydney’s intra-club hit out on Wednesday and can expect more time there during the coming season, when he will vie with Lance Franklin, Adam Goodes and Kurt Tippett for time in the key forward positions.
“I expect him to play both ends at different times during the course of the season,” Longmire said.
“It’s something that I really believe he can do, swing from forward to defence and vice versa when we need it.
“I’m confident that he’s got the ability and the flexibility to be able to do that.”
Reid was one of several Swans who missed a large chunk of last season to log playing time in the intra-squad hitout.
“(Rhyce) Shaw the longer the game went, I thought the better he looked with his run and his timing,” Longmire said.
“Gary Rohan as well. His defensive stuff was really strong, he missed a couple of goals and (Lewis) Jetta just played the last 15 to 20 minutes and he’s doing a bit more training now.
“Those blokes will build up over the coming weeks.
“Sam Reid got through pretty well. I thought he looked pretty sharp, so the blokes who missed a fair bit of footy last year are starting to come back in and look okay.”
Of those players still recuperating from injury, Longmire hoped Tippett would train on Friday and Goodes would resume running on either Friday or next Monday..
He suggested Franklin, who played 62 minutes if the intra-club game, might not play in next Thursday’s NAB Cup match against Greater Western Sydney.
“He might need another week of solid training, (Lewis) Roberts Thomson, (Mike) Pyke, there’s probably a few in that boat,” Longmire said.
Franklin had six shots at goal, but didn’t register a major and said he was probably a couple of games away from being fully fit.
