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AAP
Sport
Adrian Warren

Coach Longmire not focusing on Swans' MCG return

John Longmire hasn't discussed Sydney's grand final thumping with players ahead of their MCG return. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Sydney coach John Longmire isn't interested in looking back as he prepares for Melbourne and the Swans' return to the MCG for the first time since their 81-point AFL grand final hammering by Geelong.

The Swans sit atop the ladder on percentage after thumping Gold Coast by 49 points and Hawthorn by 81.

One of the narratives heading into Sunday's clash with the Demons will be on Sydney's performance in their last game at the MCG, but Longmire suggested he didn't feel the need to address that issue with his players.

"It's seven months ago," Longmire said with a resigned smile when the inevitable question was asked.

"We're into this week and we're into Melbourne, that's what matters.

"Their list is outstanding, their midfield is as good as any going around, their defence is extremely well structured and they play a good quality brand of footy that stands up at the business end.

"It is a big test and we're not shying away from that, we know its going to be a tough one."

Spearhead Lance Franklin is set to return from his one-game suspension.

With young talls Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey kicking five and four goals respectively against the Hawks there is the suggestion Hayden McLean, who was backup ruckman to Peter Ladhams, could be the one to miss out.

"Lance (Franklin) trained today and he trained well, so we expect hopefully he gets through the week and comes back into the team and then we've got a decision to make as far as our ruck situation," Longmire said.

"Whilst he (McLean) hasn't hit the scoreboard like Joel did on the weekend, he's been able to do the second ruck role for us as well.

"That's something we'll weigh up this week, whether we want to go with the extra height or we go smaller and run."

Melbourne will be without their senior ruckman in Max Gawn, but have another All Australian in Brodie Grundy.

"There's not may teams have that luxury, so they get Grundy in the ruck and their midfield won't fall off much at all because of the quality they have in replacing Gawn," Longmire said.

Sydney lost the clearances in each of their first two games and Longmire acknowledges it's an area for improvement.

"The good thing from last week is that they (Hawthorn) didn't have so many effective clearances, the distance that they got from clearance and the scores from clearance," Longmire said.

"We just want to make sure that we keep applying enormous pressure around the ball and if things don't go well, then we're able to recover our position and be able to get in a strong position to be able to attack off the back of it."

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