Hurt Swan McGlynn racing finals clock

9 Sep 2012, 7:28 pm   -   Source: AAP
The Sydney Swans will happily take a week's break in the AFL finals after a torrid schedule. (AAP)

The Sydney Swans will happily take a week's break in the AFL finals after a torrid schedule. (AAP)

Sydney forward Ben McGlynn faces a fitness battle to play again in the AFL finals with a hamstring strain to sideline him for two to three weeks.

Sydney Swans forward Ben McGlynn has been given some hope of playing a part in the Swans' AFL finals campaign after being diagnosed with a minor strain of his right hamstring.

McGlynn suffered the injury during Saturday's 29-point qualifying final victory over the Crows in Adelaide and underwent scans on Sunday.

McGlynn, who has missed only one game in 2012, was in tears on the bench after being substituted on the weekend.

The diagnosis has given the former Hawthorn forward a small chance of returning for the grand final, but it's unlikely he'll feature in Friday week's home preliminary final.

Swans club doctor Nathan Gibbs said the injury would require two to three weeks rehabilitation, which could mean the Swans need to get to the grand final for McGlynn to play again this year.

"The scans showed Ben had only a little inflammation inside the muscle, which is a positive sign," Gibbs said in a statement on Sunday.

"We will work with Ben and hope to get him up and running again this season."

Sydney are looking forward to their one-week break following a torrid schedule over the past five weeks, which included matches against four of the top six teams.

Defender Nick Smith expects valuable utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson to return to the forward line for the preliminary final after his sterling effort down back against the Crows.

Roberts-Thomson, who has played up forward for most of the year after spending most of his career down back, deputised superbly for suspended key defender Heath Grundy, who will be available for the next game.

"LRT was amazing," Smith said of Roberts-Thomson.

While it was vintage Roberts-Thomson on the weekend, Smith acknowledged Sydney may have a new X-factor player in former Richmond and West Coast forward Mitch Morton.

Morton kicked two goals and tallied five marks and four tackles in his first full appearance for Sydney on Saturday after two substitute cameos.

"In the finals sometimes you need those players who can just kick goals and create something after everyone else's grunt work," Smith said.

Morton had to wait to round 21 for his first senior side selection despite being named in the NEAFL Eastern Conference Team of the Year and finishing as the division's leading goalkicker.

"I think we were just clarifying what his role was in the side," Smith said.

"In the reserves, he was kicking a lot of goals, but we wanted a bit more from him."

Another plus for Sydney was the stirring effort of co-captain Adam Goodes, who sparked the Swans with two early goals and finished with three majors and 22 touches.

"He was back to his best, and it's a really good sign for the team when Goodesy is up and going, he's a real barometer for us," Smith said.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube