Suspension and injuries have decimated West Coast’s firepower up forward, but Sydney coach John Longmire won’t be fooled into complacency ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table AFL clash at Patersons Stadium.
The Eagles, already without key goal-kicking trio Josh Kennedy (ankle), Mark LeCras (knee) and Mark Nicoski (hamstring), were dealt a further double blow this week when big forward Quinten Lynch was suspended and goalsneak Josh Hill was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
West Coast ruckman Dean Cox will spend more time up forward in a bid to fill the voids, while defender Mitch Brown is set to help out in attack after earning a recall.
Longmire said West Coast’s track history of being able to cover for injuries and suspension meant they couldn’t be taken lightly.
And the second-year coach was particularly wary of the threat posed by versatile ruck pairing Cox and Nic Naitanui close to goal.
“You don’t lose anything off either of them playing forward or in the ruck,” Longmire said on Friday.
“That’s why they’re such a unique combination. They’re able to do the job equally in the midfield, and they both have different strengths when they go forward.
“You lose nothing in regards to goalkicking or pressure. Both are able to put pressure on.
“That’s what makes them the dangerous combination they are.
“And they’re a team that has a good spread of goalkickers anyway.
“(Daniel) Kerr and those blokes can come in and do jobs for them either through the midfield or as resting forwards.
“I’m sure West Coast are confident they can kick enough goals. Our challenge is to try to stop them.”
West Coast made four changes to the team that beat North Melbourne last week, recalling Brown, Tom Swift, Adam Selwood and Brad Sheppard for suspended midfielder Luke Shuey, Lynch (suspended), Hill and Murray Newman.
In Sydney’s only change, running defender Marty Mattner replaced Tony Armstrong after recovering from a groin injury.
The Swans were the last team to defeat West Coast at Patersons Stadium, with an inspired final-quarter performance from veteran Adam Goodes getting them over the line in round three last year.
The second-placed Eagles have since strung together 18 straight wins at the venue, and Longmire said it would be a massive challenge for his charges to end that streak.
Sydney sit on top of the table with an 11-3 record, but could tumble out of the top-four should they lose to West Coast, who are behind on percentage.