AFL: Big opportunity for Swans recruit Peter Ladhams after Tom Hickey injury

A durable Swans big man has suffered a significant knee injury, opening the door for a new recruit to make his club debut.

Sydney has lost ruckman Tom Hickey for the next six weeks, with scans confirming the Swans’ fears that he suffered a medial collateral ligament strain.

Hickey exited in the third quarter of Friday night’s loss to the Bulldogs, and coach John Longmire ruled out another miraculous recovery after he missed only one game last year with a posterior cruciate ligament tear.

The 31-year-old’s right knee is in a brace and Sydney medical staff expect him to be sidelined for an extended period.

The upside is the Swans recruited Peter Ladhams for this reason and he will make his club debut against North Melbourne on Saturday after regaining match fitness in the VFL following an interrupted summer.

Former Port Adelaide big man Ladhams struggled with knee tendinitis throughout the pre-season but also contracted Covid and suffered a concussion in an intraclub match post-Christmas.

Peter Ladhams will make his debut for Sydney on Saturday after being traded from Port Adelaide last year. Picture: Getty Images

“We wanted to get some footy into him, which we did at the back end of the pre-season series and for the first few weeks, so he’s been able to do that,” Longmire said.

“He’ll come in and play his first game for the club this week.

“We think he’s got the capacity to add to our midfield group in regards to not only the ruck contest, which is really important for us, but also the ability to get the ball around the ground, his follow-up and just play an important role.

“He’s been working on those things over the last few weeks while he’s coming back from a couple of little niggles that he had over the pre-season.”

Sydney will again be without All-Australian forward Tom Papley, but he will ramp up his training activity this week with an eye to a round 5 return against West Coast in Perth.

Justin McInerney is set to return from a knee injury after missing the past two matches. Picture: Getty Images

But Longmire was optimistic that dasher Justin McInerney (knee) would play after missing the past fortnight, while Lance Franklin is also on track despite a cork limiting him at training on Monday.

There is a different decision to make on prized key forward Logan McDonald, who responded to his demotion with four goals and eight marks in the VFL.

“We were really pleased with how he went in our reserves. It was great to see him just run around,” Longmire said.

“Sometimes you need that for any young player; just to feel good and get hold of the footy and have an impact. He probably could’ve kicked five.

“Whether we bring him back in this week or not, we’ll have to work that through this week. But that’s certainly in our discussions.”

Originally published as AFL: Big opportunity for Swans recruit Peter Ladhams after Tom Hickey injury