Sydney defender Nick Smith is confident the Swans have enough height to counter Greater Western Sydney’s three exciting young tall forwards, should they all be picked for Saturday’s opening-round AFL derby.
The Giants could field No.1 draft picks Tom Boyd and Jonathon Patton as well as All-Australian Jeremy Cameron, who are 195 centimetres or taller.
Cameron will undergo a fitness test this week after rolling an ankle in last Friday’s practice match against Adelaide.
Patton, whose career has been stalled by injuries during the past two years, moved very well against Adelaide.
Boyd, the Giants latest No.1 draft pick, rotated between forward and ruck in his first senior hitout against Adelaide, and showed his goalkicking capabilities with a perfect set shot from almost 50 metres for his sole goal.
All Sydney’s specialist backs are below 195cm, and versatile Alex Johnson won’t be around to help key position backs Heath Grundy and Ted Richards because he will make his comeback from a long-term knee injury in the reserves.
“We’ve got Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who can swing back if we need to and obviously Teddy and Heath Grundy play down there, too,” Smith said.
“We’ll be able to cover, I would imagine, if they do play three talls.”
Smith believes former Carlton defender Jeremy Laidler could be the man to replace premiership-winning back Marty Mattner, who was forced to retire through injury last season.
“He’s a courageous player, gets across, pretty honest in his effort,” Smith said of Mattner.
“We lost Marty after 2012 and haven’t really found a replacement for him yet, but hopefully Jeremy can sort of fill that role.”
While Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh was outstanding in a half-back role last season, Smith expected the All-Australian representative would lobby for a return to the midfield.
Smith said he expected GWS to be better and more competitive after winning one game in 2013, with former Swans ruckman Shane Mumford among a batch of quality recruits.
Most pundits have nominated Sydney, Hawthorn and Fremantle as the three flag favourites, but Smith followed the typical Sydney line of hosing down his team’s prospects.
“Obviously we expect to do well,” Smith said. “But we’re not going to be putting any number on where we finish.”
