Sydney defender Aliir Aliir has learnt the hard way, that the battling Swans won't tolerate a lack of punctuality.
The exciting youngster, who had been recalled to the AFL side after being omitted for the past two games, was dumped from the team to play Brisbane on Sunday after he missed the club's eve-of-match session.
"We had a training session yesterday and it is disappointing that Aliir didn't attend and we can't stand for that as a football club, so he has taken full responsibility for that." Swans' head of football Tom Harley said.
Fellow key defender Harry Marsh took Aliir's place and the Swans opened their win account for the season with a 54-point victory at the SCG.
Swans coach John Longmire said it had been just a one-off indiscretion by Aliir.
"He's been doing everything that was required but he didn't yesterday, so he was out of the team and Marshy came in," Longmire said.
Longmire clearly didn't want to dwell on the issue.
Asked if there had been any explanation from Aliir the Swans coach said, "That doesn't matter, he was late so we make the decision and we move on."
It has been a rocky start to the season for 22-year-old Aliir, who enjoyed a breakout first year in 2016, before a knee injury ruled him out of the grand final.
His pre-season was hindered by a toe injury but the Kenyan fought his way back in to the senior side for round two.
Aliir lost his place after three games, with Longmire wanting him to lift in the defensive side of his game.
He appeared to have done that and earned the recall only to be deprived of the opportunity by his lack of punctuality.
