Sydney Swans forward Sam Wicks back with squad after allegations of girlfriend tension

Longmire denied that the incident had affected the playing group.

“No, we’ll get on with playing footy,” he said.

Adams missed the first month of the season after suffering a medial ligament strain in his left knee playing a pre-season practice match for the Swans but had a successful return through the reserves last weekend.

The 30-year-old has had a bad run with injuries, missing Collingwood’s grand final victory over Brisbane due to a hamstring strain last season and suffering a significant groin injury in 2022.

It is full circle for Adams, who moved to Sydney in 2012 to be part of the GWS Giants’ inaugural squad as a teenager, then after two seasons spent a decade at Collingwood.

He’s the first of Sydney’s experienced midfield trio to return from injury this season, with Luke Parker (broken arm), to be assessed by a specialist next week and Callum Mills (shoulder) targeting a mid-season return.

“He’s had a great pre-season. He was terrific,” Longmire said of Adams. “From the moment he walked into the place he’s provided Luke Parker and Callum Mills with a bit of extra help as far as leadership in our midfield group.

Taylor Adams is set to play his first game for the Swans.Credit: Getty Images

“We have a really, really good young midfield group, but they are still young, and they’re still learning.

“And so to be able to add another experienced head to that – off the field in a meeting sense, and on the field in a training sense – what he says at different times during the training sessions during the games that he’s played for us in the scratch matches, so far, just adds to the value that he brings to the group.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing him run around in the red and white. He is a hard competitor.

“We’re looking forward to the pressure he puts on the opposition. That’s a big reason why we got him and why he’s in the line-up. He’ll play a combination of midfield and forward, but we’re working through that now.”

The Swans have signed their most prolific tackler, James Rowbottom, 23, on a four-year contract extension. The relentless midfielder had a club record 176 tackles last season and leads the AFL in tackles this season with 42, 18 more than any other player.