Sydney get a dose of good news heading into the must-win AFL finals game.
Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes is set to make his long-awaited return from injury for the side’s knockout semi-final this weekend against Carlton.
Goodes has been battling a niggling knee injury that has seen him out of action since round 13 this season where the Swans fell to Port Adelaide.
Amazingly Goodes was forced to stop running altogether a fortnight ago and his season looked finished despite his side still being a good chance to go deep into the finals.
However, Goodes was put through his paces during a training session over the weekend and Swans coach John Longmire is hopefully he will be able to include the duel Brownlow Medal winner in the side
:He had a pretty dramatic improvement in the last week and looked fantastic,” Longmire said.
“He had a really solid training week last week and ran the hardest he has since he’s been injured and pulled up really well,” Longmire said.
“He hadn’t had many wins (in his rehabilitation) up until a week ago. He trained today and trained well.”
If Goodes is able to play his injection into the side, and the mental boost it will give the AFL premiers to see him run out onto the ground will be massive.
Sydney were blown away by the Hawthorn Hawks in the second half of their blockbuster clash in the first round of the finals with the Sydney coach saying post-match his side looked tired.
Despite going with four talls in the side last game against the Hawks, Longmire said Goodes was rated as a smaller midfield player despite standing 190cm.
The Sydney leader said the rest of the team needed to worry about improving on other areas as they prepare to play a Carlton side full of confidence after capping a remarkable turnaround to eliminate Richmond from the finals.
“There were few other area’s we could have been better at,” Longmire said.
“Our ball use really didn’t give them much of a chance.
“It is a composure issue you have to make a good decision and execute when you’ve got the opportunity.”
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