AFL 2024: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire undaunted by mass injuries to key players ahead of opening round

Life for the Sydney Swans without retired superstar forward Lance Franklin will also begin minus captain Callum Mills, Luke Parker and midfield recruit Taylor Adams.

But coach John Longmire is adamant his emerging crop of ball winners gives him enough confidence they can start 2024 with a bang in Thursday’s opening round showdown with Melbourne at the MCG.

Adams’ practice match knee injury, which will keep him sidelined for the opening three rounds of the season, was a hammer blow after losing Mills to shoulder surgery during the off-season and Parker to a broken arm, also from a practice match incident.

It will force more pressure on rising stars Chad Warner and Errol Gulden and test Sydney’s midfield depth to work with gun ruck recruit Brodie Grundy against a star-studded Demon midfield boosted by the return of ball-magnet Clayton Oliver.

Longmire has had little time to make adjustments in the wake of both Adams and Parker’s injuries, but remains undaunted by the early-season challenge.

“That’s probably three of our most experienced mids out, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t got the numbers to go through there,” Longmire said on Tuesday.

“We feel like we’ve still got a good quality of players to go through that midfield group.

“They’ll be young, but we’re really confident in that midfield group.”

Trading for Melbourne’s James Jordan could prove a crucial move in light of the midfield carnage and his 31 touches and four clearances against the Brisbane Lions in the club’s final pre-season hitout on Thursday shows he could become a key part of the team.

“He’s been terrific. He’s had a great pre-season,“ Longmire said.

“He’s played a bit of footy and comes from a good system.

“Like all the players, we’re all looking forward to putting the pre-season behind them and getting into the real stuff.”