Injured Sydney key forward Logan McDonald is set to play in the AFL grand final, but questions still remain around captain Callum Mills’ fitness.
McDonald missed the Swans’ first training session ahead of the MCG decider with the Brisbane Lions after rolling his ankle following a marking contest against in their preliminary final win.
The minor premiers were already without Mills after the club captain suffered a hamstring injury in the aftermath of Sydney’s qualifying-final win over GWS.
While Swans coach John Longmire was confident McDonald, the club’s third-most prolific goalkicker, would be able to put up his hand for team selection on Tuesday, he stopped short of confirming Mills’ fitness.
McDonald kicked 37 goals across the home-and-away season to finish third behind Joel Amartey (43) and Will Hayward (40).
“Logan’s pretty good. He was really good today. We expect him to be able to get through training tomorrow and be right to play,” Longmire said.
“Callum will train flat out tomorrow, that’s the plan. He’ll turn up tomorrow and train at absolute 100 per cent intensity. We’ll see how we go.”
Mills’ hamstring injury is the latest of setbacks for the first-year captain this season.
The 27-year-old was ruled out at the start of 2024 after tearing the rotator cuff in his left shoulder in a Mad Monday mishap before a calf injury delayed his return further, meaning the final against GWS was just his seventh game of the season.
After averaging 12.5 disposals a game to start his campaign, the usually prolific ball-winner was beginning to rediscover his form before he was sidelined again.
He averaged 24 disposals across his last three matches against Essendon, Adelaide and the Giants after a move to the backline.
Sydney have recalled injured stars for the big September stage before, including Mills’ selection for the 2016 decider after the academy product suffered a soft tissue injury in week one of finals.
While previously admitting it was a mistake to play an injured Sam Reid in their 2022 grand final loss, the veteran coach also pointed to their success in selecting defender Ted Richards in 2012.
Richards was handing the task of limiting a prime Lance Franklin, then in Hawthorn colours, to help launch the Swans to victory.
“You always learn,” Longmire said.
“In 2012, we played Teddy, and he didn’t really walk all week. He had a crook ankle, and we thought ‘How about playing you on Lance Franklin in the grand final?’. He got through OK.
“I’ve got good relationship with Cal and I speak to him about a number of things all the time, about his role for this week, whether he plays or not, and making sure that he gives himself a chance tomorrow.”
Brisbane must also make a selection call after ruckman Oscar McInerney dislocated his left shoulder in the first and third quarters in their preliminary final win over Geelong.
Lions coach Chris Fagan is expected to recall Darcy Fort, who has played just two games this year, or four-gamer Henry Smith to go face-to-face with in-form Sydney big man Brodie Grundy, but Longmire refused to speculate.
“We’ll have to wait until it’s absolutely 100 per cent confirmed,” Longmire said.
“We haven’t quite finalised our team yet. Selecting Brisbane’s team might be a bit hard for me.”
