More injury woes for Swans: Kennedy hurts knee against Tigers
Sydney have been dealt another injury blow with co-captain Josh Kennedy hurting his knee against Richmond on Sunday.
The veteran midfielder twisted his knee in the first quarter while tackling Marlion Pickett.
The Swans say Josh Kennedy has strained a medial ligament.Credit:Getty
Kennedy took the free kick but hobbled off the field moments later to be assessed by medical staff.
He sat out the rest of the quarter with his left knee wrapped in ice and faces several weeks on the sidelines.
"Joey's strained a medial ligament, doesn't look like he'll be able to take part in the game," Swans football boss Charlie Gardiner said during the quarter-time break on Channel Seven.
The Swans have been hit hard by injuries this season, especially to their big-man stocks. They are without champion spearhead Lance Franklin, their centre half-forward Sam Reid and first-choice ruckman Sam Naismith.
Also injured are back-up ruckmen Callum Sinclair, Michael Knoll and Joel Amartey, who had been in line to make his debut this week before straining his hamstring, key forward Tom McCartin and defender Lewis Melican.
Despite their dearth of tall options, they made a shock last-minute change, leaving out key defender Aliir Aliir, not due to injury but poor form.
"Aliir has just struggled with a bit of form and we just want to get him back to his very best form," Swans assistant coach John Blakey said.
"We obviously face a few issues with our height both down back and in the ruck but we think that we can manage that."