John Longmire hasn’t given up on Sydney’s season despite another SCG defeat

Sydney’s once proud record at the SCG is shot to bits and there are issues with its leaky defence but coach John Longmire is refusing to concede his battling side is in a rebuilding year.

Aliir Aliir attempts to spoil Braydon Preuss. Picture: AAP

Sydney coach John Longmire admits his battling side is undergoing an “evolution” this season, but has refused to concede it as a rebuilding year.

The Swans’ once proud record at the SCG is shot to bits and the absence of backline glue Jarrad McVeigh has been further exacerbated by the revelation standout defender Nick Smith’s return to the AFL remains a mystery as he continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.

Sydney may carry some psychological wounds from Thursday’s chastening loss to Melbourne, given the way the last-placed and confidence-ridden Demons so badly exposed their defence and turned a 22-point deficit into a 22-point triumph.

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McVeigh is out for six to eight weeks with a quad problem and there are lingering doubts over whether reliable back-half veterans Heath Grundy (back) and Smith can return in the meantime to beef up the resistance.

Aliir Aliir showed his class for periods, but the Swans defence leaked like a sieve and alarm bells are now ringing over whether the Swans are capable of maintaining their extraordinary decade-long streak of making finals.

Longmire admits his personnel crisis in the back half of the field is indicative of a bigger picture unfolding at the Swans.

“It’s hard to say (how much McVeigh was missed). He’s not there and he won’t be there for quite a few weeks,” said the coach.

“Heath Grundy isn’t there. Nick Smith is not there. It’s a different looking back six.

“That’s just the way it’s. We’ve just got to make sure that the next group coming forward pick the baton up and run with it.

“It’s a different looking back six but that’s part of the evolution of the footy club.”

Disappointed Swans players Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin after Thursday night’s loss to Melbourne. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Swans were in their current predicament of 1-3 in 2014 and rallied to make the Grand Final.

Longmire said his team still believes and is making no excuses for his young list that features 70 per cent of players under the age of 24.

“We’ve just got to get it (consistency) in there. It’s a matter of understanding that the game goes for (four quarters). We’ve still got some senior players out there as well,” he said.

“The way (Dane) Rampe plays four quarters, that’s what you’ve got to do. Really intense, hard footy and when you drop off a little bit during the course of the game, you’ve got to come back hard.

“We’re confident but we’ve still got to do it. It’s not a matter of talking about it, it’s about going out there and executing.”

Smith had been confident of making his way back into the Swans’ reserves, but Longmire said on Thursday night that his Mr Reliable remained an uncertain case.

“He’s still got some issues with his hamstrings,” said Longmire.

“We’re unsure about that at the moment. We don’t have a return date for Nick.”

Zak Jones gets a kick away under pressure. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Smith’s hamstring recovery had been affected by a mystery illness which knocked the 30-year-old for six.

Only a week ago Smith – who has an outstanding defensive record against some of the AFL’s biggest attacking weapons like Eddie Betts – told The Daily Telegraph he thought he’d turned a corner.

“I just battled through the pre-season and just couldn’t get it right … you have the urge to hurry things along but if you know you’re doing everything you can to get right then that’s OK, and you’ll be ready when you’re ready,” he said.

Smith admits that there is an enormous onus on the Swans’ dwindling number of available experienced players to impart on the youngest list in the AFL.

“We’ve got maybe six guys over 30 and then 70 per cent of the squad is under 24, so it’s important for me and the older experienced players to pass on the knowledge,” said Smith.

“… It’s important you pass those lessons on before you leave the footy club.”