Swans coach expects Grundy to play

Sydney coach John Longmire expects to field veteran key defender Heath Grundy to help counter Richmond's anticipated three-pronged tall forward assault on Friday.

The Swans resume after their bye with a 9-2 record, having reeled off six straight wins before their break. Grundy jarred a knee in the Swans' last game against North Melbourne before their bye.

His presence will be needed on Friday, as the Swans likely face the new-look Tigers forward set-up of Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths. Richmond notched four straight victories before their break and Longmire remained impressed with the Tigers despite their last-start loss to West Coast.

"They've got three talls in their forward line that are giving them a different look, and their ball movement going forward has been very efficient," Longmire said.

He anticipated Grundy would be available for Friday. But impressive rookie Isaac Heeney and veteran forward-midfielder Ben McGlynn would not be considered for senior selection, he said.

However, teenage forward Heeney is ready to resume in the Swans' reserves after a knee injury in round six stalled his campaign, while McGlynn is still working to get back from a hamstring strain that has kept him out of the past two games

"Isaac will play, but he'll come back through the reserves, he hasn't quite got a gold card just yet," Longmire joked. "Benny McGlynn won't be available to play this week, he'll need another week of training under his belt"

Longmire foreshadowed an imminent move into midfield for Heeney, the youngest player on the Swans list.

His oldest player, Adam Goodes is the only Swan still at the club who played in their 2005 premiership-winning team. He will be acknowledged before Friday's game.

"His form over the last month has been terrific and that's what he's been focused on, he's not looking back in the rear vision mirror 10 years," Longmire said of Goodes.

"He's firmly looking at the present and what he can do going forward."

Never one to talk his side up, Longmire was not about to make any predictions, despite the Swans being well placed at 9-2 and having already played away games against their big rivals Fremantle and Hawthorn.

"We've got to continue to work on all aspects of our game," Longmire said.

Mike Pyke has been the only specialist ruckman Longmire has used this season, but he anticipated using others in the second half of their campaign. - AAP