Sydney coach Dean Cox has explained the decision to rest Brodie Grundy for Saturday’s big win over struggling at Richmond, offering a chance to Peter Ladhams.
Ladhams stepped up from good VFL form to press his case for a regular run, potentially alongside Grundy with Sydney using two rucks.
Ladhams finished with 24 disposals and 28 hit-outs against the Tigers, who used Noah Balta and Ollie Hayes-Brown in the ruck.
Cox said: “I think Brodie, speaking to him throughout the week and what he’s done to date, that’s the part being such a competitor, he wants to train every day and play every game.
“But for someone with the workload he’s had, we had to do it (rest him) at some stage.
“The option with Pete being in great form whilst he was still available, we had to do it then and there.
“He just played the way he’s been playing every week which is really good to see.”
The Swans lost Justin McInerney in the game to a rolled ankle.
Cox said: “There was an option to put him back out just after half-time, it was still a bit sore, so it was about trying to manage him as best we could and not make it any worse.
“I don’t know the extent of it, that’ll be determined on Monday. He was walking around the changerooms which was good.”
Cox was optimistic about Callum Mills (calf tightness) proving his fitness for next weekend’s clash with St Kilda.
About The Author
Ben Somerford
