Missing a week of football will not automatically rule out the rising defender Nic Newman, as he puts his foot forward for selection ahead of the Carlton game this weekend.
Despite missing last week as a late withdrawal for the Adelaide clash, he proved himself fit and did all that he needed to do on Thursday, and travelled with the squad as an emergency.
While playing the Crows was the ultimate goal, he might have preferred to play the NEAFL game instead, but due to logistics, wouldn't have been able to make it back in time for kick-off.
“He recovered really well and trained strongly last Wednesday before the Friday night game against the Crows,” Harley said.
“The unfortunate part for Nic, apart from not playing in the seniors, the reserves played on the Gold Coast on Saturday, and as travelling emergency (for the seniors) to Adelaide– it all gets a bit complicated – he couldn’t get to the Gold Coast.
“So he didn’t actually play but was certainly fit and able to, and will again be in the frame to play this week.”
The versatile player has had an impressive debut season, playing 17 games and averaging 20 disposals, to go along with his impressive 71% disposal efficiency, playing an important role in defence, as well as finding himself occasionally up the field.
Meanwhile, big man Sam Naismith has overcome his hip strain and will no doubt give the selection panel more than a headache this Thursday, as they try to find a way to slide him into the team.
With an improving Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair sharing the ruck duties, the Swans will have to find a way to fit 3 into 2.
Naismith has missed the past three matches with a hip strain, suffered in the first half against the Hawks, and has returned to full contact training.
"He's ready to train and train fully, and therefore available to play on the weekend," Harley said.
"It's a good problem to have all three available. We'll need to sit down as a match committee later in the week to work out what it looks like it.
"Those three boys all have different strengths."
Perhaps the one thing in his favour is that the Swans don't have a ruck man pecking order, rather they can pick players based on their opponents, rather than fitness or form.
"It can change every week ... we'll just play it as we go," Harley said.
While the Swans would have ideally played Naismith this weekend in the NEAFL, the Swans NEAFL team finished in the top 2 and earned the first week of the finals off.
He will most likely line up in their first final next week, and could possibly be joined by either Tippett or Sinclair, along with Cunningham, Florent, Hayward and Towers as they bid for the last spots in the team.
| Robbie Fox | Ankle | 1 Week |
| Darcy Cameron | Shoulder | Season |
Like what you’re getting? Want more Swans Blog, and the chance to have your input into our site and what we create? We have additional content weekly on our Patreon Service. This is your avenue, what are you waiting for? Sign up today and get more content like this.
If you'd like to support us, you can head over to our Red Bubble Swans Blog Shop, and purchase one of our hideously overpriced mugs, stickers or notebooks. Help keep The Swans Blog alive.
Since you're here...
... we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading The Swans Blog than ever, but we don't accept advertising, and don't want to do so in the future. Unlike many other news and media organisations, fan forums and fan media, we haven't put up a paywall, or displayed ads - we want to keep our content as open as possible.
The Swans Blog is an independent fan blog and community platform. Our content takes a lot of time and hard work to produce. We do it because we love what we do and we believe our perspective matters - because it may be your perspective too.
If everyone who reads our blog, who likes it, is supporting it, our future would be much more secure.
Want instant access to the latest blog and news content from The Swans Blog?
Download our Android App from Google Play today.