UNDER-FIRE Sydney Swans big man Kurt Tippett could miss up to three weeks of football after breaking his hand during the second quarter of his side's 89-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday night.

Like many of his teammates, Tippett struggled to have an impact against the Hawks. The high-price recruit copped plenty of criticism after the huge loss.

The former Crow has had a steel plate inserted into his right hand to help speed up his recovery time, but he's set to miss at least a fortnight.

On Monday, Swans coach John Longmire said the injury wasn't an excuse for the ruck/forward's eight-possession game, nor was Tippett or the club offering it as one.

"I'm not giving up an alibi - he broke his hand," Longmire said.

"The bloke got a broken hand in the second quarter, he did really well (to keep playing). The doc said he would have subbed him at half-time if there was a player available," Longmire said.

"The doc told me at our medical meeting that he did a good job to play out the game."

Red-hot Hawks maul sloppy Swans

The 28-year-old has managed double-figure possessions in just six of his 14 games this season, but has still kicked 25 goals despite spending less time in attack, with Tippett used as the Swans' back-up ruckman to Mike Pyke. 

Longmire was quick to defend his star player and the impact he's had in 2015.

"He got in the coaches' votes the week before (against the Brisbane Lions) and kicked three (goals)," Longmire said.

"His role has changed a fair bit this year and I was on public record as saying that if he gets 40-odd goals for the year and has played 50 per cent of his time in the ruck, it's not a bad role. 

"We could get more out of him at different times, but his ruck work over the past two or three weeks has actually been pretty good, and he's still been hitting the scoreboard."

Tippett's absence couldn't come at a worse time for Longmire's men, who have to regroup from an embarrassing performance against the Hawks for a trip to Perth to take on West Coast on Sunday night.

Pyke missed last week with an ongoing knee complaint and if he can't get himself right for the Eagles clash, it will leave 20-year-old Toby Nankervis as the side's first choice option in the centre square.

The rookie has played just two games and while Nankervis has shown plenty of promise at senior level, he'll be up against 2012 All Australian Nic Naitanui in front of a fanatical home crowd.

Longmire praised his young ruckman after the Hawks loss as the only real positive to come out of the game, and is confident he can keep improving on the job. 

"In patches in the ruck he was actually OK for us and gave us some momentum in that second quarter," Longmire said.

"He's still learning the game; it's a big step up obviously every week for him, and it's another significant one this week if he plays.

Midfielder Craig Bird has been ruled out for up to a month after straining his calf against Hawthorn, but there is some better injury news for the Swans and their small forward options.

Young star Isaac Heeney was amongst the Swans' best in the NEAFL in his third game back from a knee injury and will push strongly for a recall to face West Coast, giving Longmire the option to use him inside forward 50 with Lance Franklin.

There were also promising signs for veteran Ben McGlynn (calf), who got through limited game time in the reserves, and will look to up his minutes again in the NEAFL this weekend.