The unofficial and unfortunate word out of a particularly tight Swans bubble is that versatile big man Sam Reid is “highly unlikely” to play in Saturday’s grand final against Geelong at the MCG.
The Swans are saying they will give Reid “every chance” of proving his fitness for the premiership decider after he suffered an adductor injury which forced him to be subbed out during the third quarter of Saturday’s dramatic preliminary final victory over Collingwood.
Sam Reid celebrates a goal with Will Hayward before being subbed out of last Saturday’s preliminary final. Credit:Getty Images
However, club sources confirmed to the Herald and The Age that Reid was at long odds to play. Even the timing of his scan was a closely guarded secret, but it is expected to be on Monday.
Teammates Nick Blakey and Will Hayward claimed they had no knowledge of Reid’s condition.
“I’m not too sure what the story is with Reidy,” Blakey told the Herald and The Age. “Hopefully he’s alright. He’s been massive for us all this year.
“Against Collingwood he took some massive marks in really pressure situations, we’re optimistic that he’ll be okay. But we’ll see what happens.”
Nick Blakey.Credit:Getty
“I’m not too sure yet,” Hayward told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. “He’ll have scans and try and get through the week, but knowing Reidy he’ll do absolutely everything he can to get up for the game. He’s a big part of our team, so he won’t leave any stone unturned.”
One of only two remaining 2012 premiership-winning Swans, Reid has been frustrated by injuries and inconsistency during much of the past decade to the point where the Swans delayed offering him a contract for this season.
But after a slow start he has been in career-best form and a vital part of the Swans line-up, whether taking pressure off Lance Franklin up forward or allowing the designated ruckman opportunities to rest.
The injury to Reid is compounded by the fact back-up ruckman Peter Ladhams is suspended again following his second undisciplined act of the season.
Hayden McLean played the first eight rounds this season.Credit:Getty Images
In his first year in Sydney since crossing from Port Adelaide, Ladhams was a regular in the Swans side from rounds four to 17, but has not played since following a broken thumb and subsequent suspension in the reserves.
This leaves raw tall forwards Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean, both 23, the most likely options to replace Reid.
McLean played the first eight rounds this year and Amartey has played six matches this season, the last in round 20.
McLean would appear to be the favourite should Reid not come up given the forward/ruckman was one of the three emergencies on Saturday, along with running players Harry Cunningham and Will Gould. The trio were given a solid running session on the SCG following the Swan’s scrambling one-point victory over Collingwood on Saturday.
Hayward described the match as “very exciting” despite the Swans giving up a six-goal lead.
“When Collingwood are coming like that you know they’re really hard to stop, so the siren couldn’t have come quicker for us,” Hayward said.
“When a team has nothing to lose, like Collingwood at that stage, it’s bloody hard to defend [against] – it’s chaotic ball movement and it took us a while to adapt to that. As much as you prepare yourself for it, and know the team is going to attack the corridor with no fear, you don’t really expect it.
“I think the positive thing is we can still learn – we’re into the last game of the year with room to improve. That’s a positive for us and we’ll review that heavily, and quickly move on to the biggest game of the year.”
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