Sydney's youth revolution continues apace, with teenage midfielder Luke Parker handed a senior AFL debut for Saturday's AFL clash with Port Adelaide at the SCG.

Parker, 19, will be the Swans' fourth debutant this year and their ninth since the start of last season.

The Swans also called up an old stager, with 2005 premiership player and key defender Lewis Roberts-Thomson finally over hamstring injuries which had kept him out of the senior side since round 15 last season.

Parker, the 40th pick in the 2010 draft, and Roberts-Thomson were called up to replace injured ruckman Mike Pyke and dropped forward Jarred Moore.

"Luke's a big-bodied midfielder who gets plenty of the ball, he can take a really good mark overhead and he can play forward as well, so we're really excited to have him in the team," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

Parker follows Byron Sumner, Alex Johnson and Nathan Gordon as debutants this season, while Lewis Jetta, Gary Rohan, Sam Reid, Campbell Heath and Trent Dennis-Lane were all blooded last year.

The side named for Saturday contains 10 players aged 22 or under.

"It's tremendous for the future of the footy club," Longmire said.

"To sit here this early in the season - we're not at the half way point - and have four debutants already is great for the football club.

"We feel as though we've got a bit of a depth and a bit of excitement with our younger kids coming through now that can take some pressure off some of the older players."

With Shane Mumford the only specialist ruckman in the team, Roberts-Thomson will pinch hit in that area.

"Lewis Roberts-Thomson has played in the ruck before and he has got the ability to go into the ruck and compete really well," Longmire said.

The versatile big man was used in the ruck early in his career, but admitted it had been a couple of years since he had been pressed into service in that area.

Roberts-Thomson believes he probably paid a price for pushing too hard too soon after re-aggravating his hamstring complaint.

"I suppose as a footballer you want to get back on the park as soon as possible so you are trying to push the boundaries there and unfortunately it didn't really work in my favour," Roberts-Thomson said.

"I tried to push it because the team was going really well and finals were looming, so that's why we had to put a bit more pressure there.

"It's something in hindsight you look back and say maybe I should have taken a little bit slower."

Roberts-Thomson takes his place in the defence alongside Ted Richards, who was cleared of a rough conduct charge earlier this week.

"I don't think he's got a mean bone in his body, Teddy, he's a very fair player" Longmire said.

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