AFL 2023: Sydney Swans challenge Tom McCartin’s two-match suspension for rough conduct

Sydney will appeal the two-match ban handed to Tom McCartin for a bump that ended the season of Crows forward Shane McAdam.

Tom McCartin tries to spoil Taylor Walker.

The Swans are confident Tom McCartin’s bump on Adelaide’s Shane McAdam will be seen as a genuine footy accident as they attempt to challenge the key defender’s two-match ban.

McCartin was hit with a two-match suspension for a rough conduct charge after the collision was graded as high impact and high contact in the fourth quarter of Sydney’s controversial one-point win.

The 23-year-old has played a crucial role in the Swans’ late-season turnaround and has been their main defender amid a range of backline injuries.

Two weeks on the sidelines would see McCartin miss Sydney’s final home game against Melbourne, as well as an impending elimination final.

“We’ve decided to challenge it because we feel it was an accidental football incident,” coach John Longmire said.

“The ball deviated; Tommy didn’t even really brace, let alone elect to bump. And because of the way it bounced – both to the side and backwards – Tommy didn’t have a lot of choice.”

While the Swans would likely be happy to get McCartin’s ban down to one week so he can play in their elimination final, Longmire was hopeful he would be available to take on the Demons.

The Swans’ task at the tribunal will be made more difficult by the fact that McAdam has since been ruled out for the season. Despite playing out the game, the Crows’ forward required surgery on a depressed cheekbone fracture as a result of the hit.

Taylor Walker and Tom McCartin compete for a loose ball. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Longmire could be without a number of other key players for the clash against Melbourne, where a win could seal a home game in week one of the finals.

Tom Papley was subbed out of Saturday’s game with hamstring tightness while Joel Amartey and Justin McInerney still have to prove their fitness.

“(Papley) is OK. He’s pulled up well today,” Longmire said.

“He’s still a chance to play this week. We’ll see how the week progresses and it’d be great to have him in the team.”

Despite the Swans having an extra week off after round 24 to prepare for the finals, Longmire said the did not intend to rest any players against Melbourne.

“There’s plenty to play for this week,” he said. “Whoever is fit and ready to go and putting their hand up this week, we’ll pick them.

“Melbourne is a top-four team. Both teams have plenty on the line.”

John Longmire speaks to Tom Papley. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Swans sat in the bottom four at round 17 and looked likely to be watching the September action from home. However, their remarkable reversal in form has secured Longmire his 11th finals series in 13 seasons.

The experienced coach admitted he had never written the season off but conceded that it’s certainly not a year that has gone to plan.

“I never got down to the point where I lost hope,” he said. “It was always a case of if we get on a bit of a run and we were able to be competitive … that we would be a chance of playing some good footy.

“I don’t think we altered (our game style), it was just player availability. Once you get some consistency in your key personnel it makes a big difference.

“It’s a real challenge every year to put yourself in a position to be able to have another go. It’s a good achievement to be able to get there, but we’ve still got a game to go this week.”

Originally published as AFL 2023: Sydney Swans challenge Tom McCartin’s two-match suspension for rough conduct