3 minute read

Sydney coach John Longmire says talk about the AFL finals must wait until after the last-round clash with St Kilda this weekend.

Sydney coach John Longmire wants to ban the 'f' word at his AFL club this week.

Finals, and particularly Sydney's prospects of a top-two finish, are on the wider agenda entering the last home-and-away round.

The second-placed Swans can secure two home finals by defeating St Kilda on Sunday. But such talk is off-limits for Longmire.

"I know that everyone wants to talk about finals," Longmire told reporters on Tuesday.

"But the fact is we have got this week and we need to play well against St Kilda and that is at the forefront of our minds because it has to be. It's an important game.

" ... So we're looking at that and there will be time after Sunday's game to sit back and refocus.

"But at the present time it's about the Saints and that is what we need to concentrate on."

Pressed further on Sydney's potential top-two finish, Longmire refused to bite.

"It's not something, once again, that we talk about internally because it's just not part of our preparation," he said.

"It's not something we really focus on at all, we tend to look at what is very much in front of us.

"And we don't have to explain it (the potential top-two finish), I think everyone knows.

"So it's more of a focus on the Saints this week and what they do well.

"Their pressure was great last week and we will be looking at that and making sure that we finish off the season on a really strong note."

Sydney put their finals fate in their own hands by ending Collingwood's 11-game winning streak last Sunday, downing the Magpies by 27 points.

Swans fans jeered injured Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan during the game, with Longmire calling on supporters to respect all AFL players.

"It's not so much just a message for our fans, it's just across the competition, it's important that we respect all players," he said.

"I don't want to speak on behalf of the fans. I just think it's mindful that we respect all players that go out there and put their best foot forward every week.

"It's not an easy thing to do, put yourself out there and play every week on the biggest stage - just be mindful of that right across the competition.'