The under-fire Swans veteran that Longmire ‘needs’ in finals as returning guns mount case

Sydney coach John Longmire has suggested the experience of Taylor Adams would be “important”, with the former Magpie sweating on his spot, hoping to avoid the 2023 heartbreak when he missed Collingwood’s premiership win through injury.

Star Swans forward Tom Papley was also flagged as being able to “ramp it up significantly” at training this week, with a raft of key inclusions set to boost the minor premiers in Saturday’s all-Sydney qualifying final at the SCG.

Papley, who hasn’t played since round 20 because of an ankle injury, could be among four potential inclusions for the clash with GWS, with All-Australian Isaac Heeney, who was rested from the Round 25 win over Adelaide, also ready to return.

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Running machine Justin McInerney should also come back to play the Giants as well as defender Tom McCartin, but Longmire knows he has to balance how many players he brings back at once.

“Papley, McInerney, McCartin and Heens, they all trained today and got through well,” Longmire said on Tuesday after his team’s main session for the week.

“Hopefully, they do the same on Thursday.

“I usually don’t get too ahead of myself until the last training session. I wait a bit and kick that can down the road.

“We focus solely on this week and who’s available. They’ve been doing the training they’ve had to do over the last couple of weeks and been able to ramp it right up. This week, they’ve lifted as well.

“In Juzzy’s case, he’s got great fitness and is an elite runner, so it’s just about how he feels around the ball, at the contest, and he’s been doing all he can in that space.

“Paps is an A-grade quality player, and he was able to ramp it up significantly today which is a good sign.”

The inclusions could put the place of 30-year-old Adams, who moved to Sydney after his heartbreaking end to last season, in jeopardy.

Adams has played 19 games at his new club and Longmire stressed how important his experience could be in a young Swans side pushing for a premiership.

“I think that anyone who has had experience in finals is important,” Longmire said.

“We always talk about a whole squad of players that you need at this time of year, and we’ve had to get through the season with the whole squad.

“Taylor in particular has played a lot of footy for us this year, and we’ll need that over the coming weeks … everyone’s got a role to play in the squad.

“It’s important to be able to look at the team, what it looks like after the last training session and then select the team.”

The Swans have lost all three finals they have played against the Giants but won both local derbies in 2024 by 27 and 29 points.

“We don’t spend a lot of time looking at (the Giants record),” he said. “The most relevant (match) is this year in terms of playing style and personnel because that has the most relevance.

“But even that, there are subtle changes. Both teams have had players in and outs and will be a bit different this week.

“We’ve looked at what the Giants have done over the past month, and their footy has been electric. Their ability to run and gun and to be able to turn defence into attack really quickly is a real strength of theirs.

“We know they’ll be virtually at full strength. They’re a team that’s won seven of their past eight games, the form team of the competition. We need to be at our best.”