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Swans ribbing Tippett about Crows confrontation

They’ve been ribbing him all week, yet Sydney are confident ruckman Kurt Tippett won’t let a frosty reception in Adelaide get in the way of his AFL game.

Apr 15, 2016, updated Apr 15, 2016

Tippett will play against some former Crows teammates and in front of old fans in South Australia this weekend, for the first time since his acrimonious exit in 2012.

The 28-year-old has missed every Swans match in Adelaide since then due to suspension and injury, but will finally return with John Longmire’s undefeated outfit on Saturday.

Both Longmire and Crows coach Don Pyke this week brushed it away as a non-issue, pointing out that four years is a long time to hold a memory.

But teammate Ben McGlynn said the playing group had been doing their best to rev Tippett up ahead of the heavyweight clash at Adelaide Oval.

“He will be nervous going against his old team,” the veteran utility said.

“Obviously there are a lot of players who have moved on since he’s been there, though he’s probably still got a lot of mates there.

“It’s been a while so we’re not too sure how Adelaide people will respond, but I’m sure Kurt will handle it pretty well.

“Once the ball is bounced he’ll be fine.”

As far as the Crows are concerned, they’ll be giving Tippett the cold shoulder.

“The players won’t give him any response apart from he’s wearing a Sydney jumper and we need to defend him when he has got the ball and when he’s in motion,” Crows assistant coach James Podsiadly told reporters on Friday.

“The crowd – it’s entirely up to them.”

Podsiadly said the snubbing of Tippett wasn’t a team tactic, adding his controversial departure was history.

“The players have never got briefed on anything like that,” he said.

“When you’re in the industry, people move and come – and it moves too quickly to actually think about things like that.

“Apart from Kurt being a fantastic player for the opposition, we scout him as an opponent.”

Sixth-placed Adelaide on Friday cleared half-back Paul Seedsman of any lingering effects from concussion suffered in last week’s away win against Richmond.

Seedsman will front against the ladder-leading and unbeaten Swans, who have won their past four matches against the Crows by healthy margins – the closest Adelaide have come in that span is 29 points in round 24, 2012.

“They have had the wood on us and the average losing margin is pretty high over the last two or three years,” Podsiadly said.

“But this year is a different year and we’re looking to change that.”

AAP

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