3 minute read

Sydney coach John Longmire believes there's more upside to Joel Amartey, but says the emerging forward faces a huge challenge this week against GWS.

Sydney's nine-goal hero Joel Amartey is the toast of the town, but he's been warned to expect a torrid challenge when he confronts the AFL's premier defender Sam Taylor on Saturday.

Amartey kicked four goals in the second term and four in the third on his way to 9.1 in Sydney's 42-point come-from-behind victory over Adelaide on Saturday.

It marked the biggest haul by a Sydney player since Lance Franklin kicked 10 goals against Carlton in round 23, 2017.

Amartey's previous best was four goals, but his nine-goal haul is going to put him squarely in the sights of all of the AFL's best defenders.

Two-time All-Australian Taylor is set to be first in line this weekend.

"It's going to be much tougher for him this week," Sydney coach John Longmire said of Amartey.

"Sam Taylor is probably the best defender going around in the competition at the moment. It's going to be a big challenge for him."

Amartey is in his fifth AFL season, and his 31.13 this year is already by far his best return.

Longmire said the 24-year-old had benefited from a strong pre-season, something that has eluded him for much of his career.

"He had a number of injuries over the journey, and that's taken the development area out of him," Longmire said.

"This year was probably his best pre-season ... so therefore we've seen some development in him.

"And also the self confidence and self-belief in the impact he can have (has grown). He's big, he's strong, he's quick.

"We're not expecting nine goals every week.

"We're just expecting (a strong) approach to the contest, which is what we need on a consistent basis."

Longmire knows all about kicking big bags of goals, having tallied 14.2 for North Melbourne against Melbourne in just his third season.

"It was back in the black-and-white (TV) days," Longmire said with a laugh.

Sydney have won nine straight games to shoot three wins clear on top of the ladder.

Swans captain Callum Mills is closing in on a return following an unlucky run with injury.

Mills injured his shoulder in a Mad Monday accident last year, then tweaked his calf in April.

But the 27-year-old could be just two or three weeks away from a playing return after ramping up his training loads.

"We need a block of training," Longmire said.

"He's been training for a few weeks, tackling, running around, doing all that.

"He'll need another couple of weeks of solid training, and we'll see how he goes."

Meanwhile, Swans utility Robbie Fox has re-signed for another season, tying him to the club until the end of 2025.