AFL 2022: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire focused firmly on St Kilda despite finals being on the horizon

The Swans are arguably the competition’s in-form team with one round to go in the season but finals talk will have to wait.

Veteran Swan Tom Hickey has starred in the ruck in recent weeks. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney coach John Longmire is not tempted to dream about a top-two finals position for his Swans as they prepare to lock horns with St Kilda in the last round.

The 2012 premiership coach’s mind famously never drifts beyond the challenge in front of him and not even the carrot of a double chance and home finals up to the grand final could change that.

Red-hot Sydney holds a slender 0.6 per cent edge on third-placed reigning premier Melbourne entering round 23 but, on paper, has a more straightforward game against the 10th-placed Saints at Marvel Stadium.

The Demons must head to the Gabba and take down Brisbane for a second time this season if they expect to hang onto a top-four berth.

The Swans somewhat stumbled into last year’s finals series before the Giants eliminated them but are fresh from snapping Collingwood’s winning streak and have won six games on the trot.

“It’s really important we finish the season off,” Longmire said.

Swans ruckman Peter Ladhams, pictured jostling with young Kangaroos big man Jacob Edwards in the VFL, hopes to break into the senior side in time for finals. Picture: Getty Images

“I know that everyone wants to talk about finals, but the fact is we’ve got this week and we need to play well against St Kilda, and that’s at the forefront of our minds, because it has to be. It’s an important game.

“We go down and play them on their home deck. They’ve got a couple of days’ extra rest on us and they’ve played last week and had the same scoring shots as a top-four team.

“So we’re looking at that and there’ll be time afterwards, after Sunday’s game, to sit back and refocus. But, at the present time, it’s about the Saints and that’s what we need to concentrate on.”

Sydney’s senior side also appears as good as settled, with one of the AFL’s shortest injury lists and most players in strong form.

Ruck recruit Peter Ladhams looms as a potential finals wildcard after returning through the VFL in the past fortnight after breaking his right thumb but Tom Hickey has enjoyed an outstanding couple of weeks.

Ryan Clarke has grabbed his senior opportunity as a defensive forward in the second half of the season. Picture: Getty Images

Sam Reid continues to serve as the relief ruckman, and has kicked more than a goal a game this season while averaging a career high of almost five tackles.

“The good thing about the last few weeks is we’ve been able to get some training into ‘Hick’, in particular,” Longmire said.

“Obviously, Pete broke his thumb and missed three weeks, so he’s been able to get back into a training routine and ... was very good at the weekend for us.

“It’s important for us to be able to have two players who we can go to, if needed.”

Longmire also hailed the contributions of “very important” role players Robbie Fox and Ryan Clarke, who have become senior regulars in the second half of the seasons, as well as forward Will Hayward.

Swans great Josh Kennedy (hamstring) is still a few weeks away from resuming full training and seems long odds to be a part of the club’s finals campaign.