North captain Andrew Swallow has shown enough at training to suggest he will be fully fit for Sunday’s clash against West Coast in Hobart, interim coach Darren Crocker says.
The 28-year-old, who has missed the past two rounds with a broken right thumb, moved freely during the Roos’ main training session at Arden Street on Thursday.
Crocker said Swallow’s inclusion in the 25-man squad would strengthen the Roos’ midfield.
“It’s great to have him back. We gave him right up until today, he didn’t do any contact (training) earlier in the week but even he wanted to give it a good test today,” Crocker told NMFC.com.au on Thursday.
“(He) did all the tackling, did all the competitive stuff and he came through that really well.”
Crocker said tall Majak Daw had again been named in the squad to face the Eagles after impressing for VFL affiliate Werribee in recent weeks.
“Our development coaches have been coming in for the last few weeks now and talked about Maj’s consistency,” he said, citing Daw’s five-goal haul last Saturday.
“He’s consistently impacting games, whether he’s marking it or really working hard to keep the ball in the forward line.”
After being omitted last week, defender Ben Jacobs returns to the squad after having responded well to his demotion with a 32-possession performance for VFL affiliate North Ballarat.
“He went back with a great attitude and worked on the things that the coaches had sent him back with,” Crocker said.
“His efforts in the contests were really strong and he gets another opportunity to come back in.”
Last Thursday, coach Brad Scott said the Roos’ backline was in need of “a reshuffle”, naming experienced backman Scott McMahon as a player who could potentially fill any deficiencies if given a chance.
Crocker echoed Scott’s views, highlighting McMahon’s consistent role in Werribee’s back six so far this season.
“When you talk about not dropping your bundle and going about your business and looking after the things you have control of, his attitude’s been great,” Crocker said.
“It’s a really good story that after being absent from the senior team for such a long time, he’s been able to work away and chip away.”
McMahon’s inclusion in the extended line-up comes at the expense of fellow defender Luke McDonald.
Crocker said McDonald would need to “get some real belief back” at VFL level before coming into consideration for a recall.
“We just felt that Luke hasn’t quite got to the level that he’d set himself last year,” he said.
“He’d even have higher expectations of where he’s at at the moment; he realises he’s not playing the type of footy that he’d like to play.”
Crocker said livewire forward Kayne Turner had also been overlooked in favour of attacking forwards Robbie Nahas, Shaun Higgins and Brent Harvey.
“With the limited impact he’s been having in games … we just felt he needs to go and really start to impact games a little bit more at VFL level,” he said.
"Great to have him back"
Andrew Swallow is set to return against the Eagles.