No risk in playing Bradshaw, McGlynn

SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos says Daniel Bradshaw and Ben McGlynn are “95 per cent” certain to line up in Saturday’ night’s semi-final against the Western Bulldogs.
 
The pair was named in the Swans’ side to face the Bulldogs at the MCG, replacing forwards Paul Bevan and Jesse White from the team that defeated Carlton by five points.
 
Bradshaw’s return will mark his first game since round nine and McGlynn will be playing his first match in a month, but Roos said he was comfortable with fielding the duo.
 
“Braddy’s played the last two games [in the reserves] so from an injury point of view, we’re not concerned about it,” he said.
 
“He’s played 60 minutes, 80 minutes; you go back to the start of the year and his actual preparation going into this game is a lot better than what it was going into round one.
 
“Benny’s only been out three weeks and of that time, he’s been running the last week and a bit anyway.
 
“It’s certainly not the time to take any risks and we won’t do that, but providing they get through training and train well, we don’t see there’s much of a risk at all.”

However, Roos said both would be thoroughly tested in Thursday night’s main session at the SCG before a final decision was made on their fitness.

Three emergencies, including Bevan and White, will be flown to Melbourne in case the need arises for a late change on Saturday night.

“Anyone that was going to miss out for [Bradshaw and McGlynn] was going to be unlucky,” Roos said.

“Equally, all the players were supportive – and I’m sure as hard as it is for Bevo and Jesse, even those two are supportive – because they know the two guys that are coming back in are clearly two pretty important players.

“I’ve told them to prepare to play anyway, because we’re not sure that Daniel and Benny will get through [training].”

Roos said the Swans’ poor third quarter against the Blues, in which they conceded five unanswered goals, was no cause for concern.

“If you’ve got a gap of four or five [goals], you know the other team is going to lift,” he said.

“That second half, the third quarter, they really lifted and we struggled to go with them and in the last quarter, we did go with them and we were able to win the game.

“I don’t think you ever expect to go through four quarters and dominate a game.”

Key Bulldogs Adam Cooney and Dale Morris will be absent through injury on Saturday night but Roos said all 22 of his players still needed to be focused to quell the threat posed by their opponent.

One player who won’t be there on Saturday night is controversial ex-Bulldog Jason Akermanis and Roos suggested his absence would be a bonus for his former teammates.

“It’s lucky for them, I think; not lucky for us. The way he’s carrying on at the moment, it’s lucky for them he’s not at that footy club,” he said.