Tippett hits hurdle in bid for AFL recall

Jun 19, 2017 - 7:57 AM A long-standing ankle injury will ensure Sydney ruckman Kurt Tippett spends at least another week in AFL exile.

Tippett's patchy form meant he played no part in the Swans' recent wins over the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.

The axed 30-year-old's hopes of a recall for the club's crunch clash with Essendon at the SCG on Friday night are already over.

Tippett pulled up sore on Monday after a second game in the seconds, with coach John Longmire confirming the out-of-favour big man will not face the Bombers.

"It's just been getting a little bit worse and worse," Longmire said of Tippett's ankle injury.

"He's had it for a couple of weeks. It's been grumbling along but it got a bit worse.

"We've got to make sure we get him right so he can play."

Tippett is in the midst of his fifth season with Sydney but has only played 70 games for the Swans, a product of a series of setbacks that include an 11-game suspension for his role in Adelaide salary cap breaches.

Longmire backed Tippett, who joined the Swans on a lucrative multi-million deal in 2012, to fight his way out of his rut.

"That's what AFL footy is about. You go through those patches when that happens and it's just about showing the resilience to bounce back,"Longmire said.

"I'm sure he will. He's a really resilient character."

The news is better for Jarrad McVeigh, who hasn't played since tweaking his hamstring in round eight.

The former Swans co-captain is moving well and will be on the cusp of a call-up if he makes a good impression at Wednesday's training session.

"He trained Saturday and trained again today. He trained quite well," Longmire said.

"We'll see how he goes Wednesday. That will be an important session for him.

"We'll see how he pulls up."

The Swans are yet to announce if they will challenge Zak Jones' one-match ban for striking Richmond's Dan Butler.

McVeigh would be an obvious replacement for Jones, while key defender Lewis Melican is also in the mix to return.

Utility Harry Cunningham is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a foot injury but still not fully fit.

The Swans' finals hopes appeared over during a miserable 0-6 start to the year but they've since banked five wins from six games.

Remarkably, Longmire's men could be in the top eight at the end of round 14 if they defeat Essendon and other results go their way.

"We know we've got very little room for error," Longmire said of his 12th-placed team's finals hopes.

Source: AAP