Swans coach John Longmire responds to calls his team is ‘smug’ ahead of Sydney derby

Given his chance to respond to claims his team is “smug” and accusations of being strangely “chirpy” in a practice game, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire was blunt.

He doesn’t care.

Ahead of what looms as a fiery Sydney derby with cross-town rival and fellow premiership contenders GWS, Longmire brushed off a fuse-lighting Monday press conference from Giants star Sam Taylor.

The All-Australian defender made it clear the “dislike” between the players was real and the 6-1 Swans found their voice during a pre-season hitout that enhanced the rivalry.

“That was chirpy, just for a practice game,” Taylor said.

“They’re young, they’re firing, they’re a bit smug. It comes from a bit of that as well. They’re chirpy on the field.”

Marketing isn’t part of Longmire’s brief, however, and on Tuesday when asked for his response said it was low on his list of concerns.

“I’ve got other things on my mind, to be honest,” Longmire said.

“I’ve been a bit for focused on Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor coming back in the team. That’s where my energies have been directed.

“This is a team that last week defeated last year’s grand finalists (Brisbane) by nine goals, with those guys out.

“I’m looking at what they do well … you’d have to ask them in a bit more detail what that was about, but I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on the game itself.”

The Giants have lost three of the last four derbies, but Saturday’s clash, with both sides having won six of seven games this season, and with players to return, looms as a titanic one.

Taylor returns from a bad concussion for GWS along with captain Greene from suspension and Coniglio after a knee injury.

But the Swans should get back veteran stars Luke Parker and Dane Rampe, Parker set to play his first game of the season after recovering from a broken arm.

“We’ve got a couple of blokes we need to get through the week,” Longmire said in reference to the key duo, Parker coming off 34 touches in his VFL return last weekend.

“He’s a quality player, we’ve just got to make sure we set him up for the season. He plays a combative style.”

 

The Swans also have former GWS coach Leon Cameron among their ranks this season, but Longmire said he hadn’t even asked for his opinion, declaring the teams “know each other” really well given how often they play each other, including in the pre-season.