THE SYDNEY Swans were left to pick up the pieces of a bruising semi-final victory over Carlton on Saturday night as they look ahead to preliminary final against Fremantle in Perth.
Spearhead Kurt Tippett lasted barely five minutes before he damaged his right knee, forcing him to be subbed out of the game, putting him in extreme doubt for the clash with the Dockers.
Tom Mitchell then hurt his ankle later in the opening term and couldn't return, with coach John Longmire saying he was highly unlikely to play next week.
Tippett's injury was similar to the one Jarrad McVeigh suffered last week against Hawthorn and the co-captain was able to play – and star – in the 24-point win over the Blues.
But Longmire wasn't sure if Tippett, the Swans' leading goalscorer this season, would have similar recuperative powers.
"Kurt did sort of what 'Macca' did with his fibula last week," Longmire said.
"I don't know what that means for next week. Macca was able to play on, (but) I'm not sure if you're 105 kilos what difference that makes.
"Tommy's ankle looks pretty bad at the moment, so he'd have to be in doubt."
Ryan O'Keefe also hurt an ankle in the dying minutes of the game, while defender Dane Rampe had strapping on his ankle after a first-half incident, but was able to play on.
Longmire expects Ben McGlynn to be back in contention, after he missed Saturday night's game with a calf issue, while Gary Rohan and Lewis Roberts-Thomson will play for the reserves on Sunday.
The Swans will have an extremely light week on the training track as they try to get as fit a side as possible over to Patersons Stadium.
"I don't think there will be too many four-hundreds run," Longmire joked.
"We had a light week last week and I thought it really benefited the players and obviously we'll have a lighter week this week.
"We enjoy going to Perth and I’m sure the players can't wait to get over there."
A bright spark for the Swans was the effort of substitute Lewis Jetta, who was thrown into the fray much earlier than expected due to Tippett's injury.
Jetta only featured in his first match since round 10 against the Hawks last week, also as a sub, but he managed 10 disposals, four inside 50s and a goal on Saturday night in encouraging signs.
"He [Jetta] said he felt pretty good after the game, which was a real credit to them," Longmire said.
"He played 75 or 80 minutes and feels really good.
"We originally thought he'd have to play an 80 or 90 minute game in the reserves, but we decided to put him in as sub and he ended up playing that time in the seniors and pulled up well.
"That's a great preparation for him."
Carlton also had its own injury troubles, with Ed Curnow (knee) subbed out early and Michael Jamison (neck) and Jeff Garlett (leg) also sustaining knocks.
