Unlucky Robinson keen to cement Swans spot

Often-injured midfielder Dan Robinson will play his third-straight game when Sydney host St Kilda in a vital AFL clash for both sides.

He'd have preferred his collarbone remained intact but Dan Robinson agrees he's timed his AFL run well.

That the promising Sydney on-baller has played only 14 senior games is testament to the fact he's also one of the most luckless.

A broken collarbone and shoulder reconstruction decimated Robinson's 2015 and 2016 campaigns before he could cement himself in the Swans' midfield.

This season was more of the same, sidelined for eight weeks after breaking his collarbone in the season-opening loss to Port Adelaide, before fracturing his jaw while on the comeback trail in the NEAFL.

The 23-year-old academy product finally caught a break a fortnight ago as an 11th-hour replacement for skipper Josh Kennedy, and has impressed in a defensive half-forward role against Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

On Saturday he'll play his third-straight game when the sixth-placed Swans host a ninth-placed St Kilda side vowing to bring more aggression in a bid to defeat John Longmire's form team.

"You'd obviously much rather be playing footy at this time of year," Robinson said.

"You'd prefer to never have an injury, but that's the way footy goes sometimes.

"I put myself in a position when I came back to make sure I was in the frame, then to have Joey (Kennedy) go out was fortunate for myself.

"Now I've just to focus on holding my position until the end of the year."

Robinson could get a job on Saints defender Dylan Roberton in a game so important it could lift the Swans to the cusp of the top four or jeopardise their spot in the eight.

History is on Longmire's side -- St Kilda have just two wins at the SCG in two decades, by one and two points respectively, and havent beaten the Swans in five years.

So too is his squad availability. Kennedy is back to give in-form midfielders Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery the edge around stoppages.

It's a factor Saints coach Alan Richardson catered for in his five changes after Essendon hurled them out of the eight, with Billy Longer back to face recalled Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair at the smaller SCG.

"It's a contest ground, we've brought in some guys that are good in contest," Richardson said.

"We've got a good balance between inside and outside. It's a slightly bigger forward line for the same reasons.

"Our team reflects that we need to be a bit more aggressive, a bit more physical."

While Robinson acknowledged the Swans' strength at the contest, he wouldn't overlook St Kilda's pacey midfielders.

"It only takes a split-second and they're gone and can really damage the game," he said.

"It's really our whole four-quarter effort that takes them out of it, rather than their contested side."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world