Rebounding defender Marty Mattner says every one of his Sydney teammates will have to lift to counter the absence of key back Heath Grundy in Saturday’s qualifying final against Adelaide.
Swans coach John Longmire has been forced into a major reshuffle of his backline for the AAMI Stadium clash after Grundy’s one-match ban was upheld at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.
The 26-year-old’s suspension could hardly come at a worst time, with the Swans taking on the Crows’ dynamic forward duo of Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker – both big forwards capable of kicking a bag of goals.
Ted Richards, whose stellar season was recognised on Tuesday when he was named in the extended All-Australian squad, will do his best to stop one of them.
But who takes the other Adelaide danger man?
Swans coach John Longmire has suggested that utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson is an option, while the versatile Alex Johnson is also a chance.
But Johnson would have a major size disadvantage against either Tippett or Walker.
“(It’s) a great loss, but it creates an opportunity for someone else to come into the team, play their role,” Mattner said.
“It’s another challenge thrown at us. We’ve got to beat Adelaide in Adelaide, it’s a tough ask if Heath’s playing or not.”
Former Crows half-back Mattner, who along with Rhyce Shaw provides much of the run out of Sydney’s defence, said Grundy’s omission would not alter his free-wheeling approach.
“Not really. Everyone else has got to lift and take up the slack,” he said.
“The player who comes in has to play his role and do what Heath does, and we have confidence in whoever does that job.”
However Mattner knew the challenge facing Grundy’s replacement would not be easy.
“Those two (Tippett and Walker) have been really good all year, they’ve kicked a lot of goals,” he said.
“But as with most games, it’s sort of (up to) the midfield.
“If you put pressure on the midfield and win your fair share of contested ball and loose ball, then it makes the job of the defence a lot easier.
“If you can get some pressure on the ball coming forward, (make the opposition use) high kicks, tough kicks out wide – it makes the job a lot easier.”
That was one of Sydney’s biggest struggles when the two sides last met, an SCG clash on May 5 in which the Crows triumphed by five points.
Gun midfielders Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson provided Walker with great service, and the 22-year-old kicked five goals.
But Tippett was kept to one goal, largely thanks to Grundy.