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.
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.
“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.
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