Why Swans great Healy isn’t surprised by star defender’s touted position switch

Sydney great Gerard Healy isn’t surprised that Tom McCartin has begun training with the club’s forward group this pre-season.

Track watchers noted that McCartin had swapped ends on the official first day of pre-season on Tuesday, with the move touted as new coach Dean Cox’s first big tactical move after taking over from John Longmire.

While McCartin has played the majority of his 132 games as a key defender, the Geelong Falcons product was initially drafted as a forward.

As McCartin shifts forward, Healy expects forward Logan McDonald to change roles with him and go into defence this season.

He discussed the move with his Sportsday co-host Sam Hargreaves.

Hargreaves: “Do you want to talk about the fact that Tom McCartin trained with the forwards today at Sydney?”

Healy: “It doesn’t surprise me because I did say a couple of weeks ago that my mail is they're going to be trialling Logan McDonald as a defender.”

Hargreaves: “There we go, maybe this is a bigger story than I was letting on.”

Healy: “Tom McCartin, like most really good defenders, started off as a forward and he made the transition at the Swans.

“They've got a couple of other potential defenders.”

Hargreaves: “Aaron Francis, they've kept him as a rookie.”

Healy: “They have (kept him), and they've also rookie listed Joel Hamling – the Bulldogs premiership player that they got from Fremantle.

“So, they've got other options, but I'm surprised they didn't try and fill that with a young player.”

Hargreaves: “That was sort of painted as the Dean Cox era has begun with the changes he’s making.”

Healy: “It'll be a brave move because the Swans have got one top-line defender that's a key defender if you like, and that’s Tom McCartin.

“If you take him out, well, it's exposing the back line.”

Sydney opens their 2025 campaign with an Opening Round clash against Hawthorn at the SCG on Friday, March 7.