Roos, Eade confident fans will flock to MCG

After the home fans stayed away in droves last week, Sydney are confident the “Bloods” will flock to tonight’s AFL semi-final at the MCG.

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The Swans could not crack 20,000 for Saturday night’s elimination final win over North Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.

Coach Paul Roos said the club’s Melbourne-based fans, who mainly come from the old South Melbourne days, would help flesh out the crowd.

Over the last few years, the Sydney team has embraced South’s “Bloods” heritage and their 2005 premiership has also strengthened their Melbourne-based support.

As of late yesterday, fans had picked up 34,000 tickets for the game.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a big crowd, we have a lot of supporters down here, which is great,” Roos said.

“We enjoy playing in Melbourne, we get really good support down here - I’m reading 50-55,000.

“We love playing at the MCG, it’s a fantastic venue.”

The Bulldogs are also counting on a big fan turnout as they try to arrest their poor form of the last two months.

“It’s important for us, because we’re going to have a home-ground advantage against an interstate team,” Eade said.

“It would be great to see the red, white and blue there en masse.

“I think we can get a home-ground advantage, but certainly a home-crowd advantage.

“When we play interstate, we obviously face that as well and I think it’s a huge advantage for our players.”

Key matchups for tonight’s AFL semi-final between the Western Bulldogs and Sydney at the MCG

BRIAN LAKE (Dogs) v BARRY HALL (Syd) - Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has indicated they will make one or two changes to their defensive set-up to combat the Swans attack. Hall was very dangerous last week against North Melbourne, especially one-out, and he finished with three goals. Lake started against Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead a week ago and worked hard against Lance Franklin in the second half. Tonight will be no easier.

MATTHEW BOYD (Dogs) v JARRAD McVEIGH (Syd) - McVeigh has had 20-plus possessions against the `Dogs in their two clashes this season, as well as kicking two goals in one clash and six in the other. He looms as a major assignment for the Bulldogs midfield. Boyd lowered his colours to Sam Mitchell last week, but he had plenty of mates as the Hawks whipped the Bulldogs around the ground. As the Swans try to restrict the Bulldogs’ run, Boyd must stifle McVeigh’s output as well.

ROBERT MURPHY (Dogs) v CRAIG BOLTON (Syd) - Murphy plays his 150th AFL match tonight and is coming off a tough semi-final, when he hurt his knee in the second half and did not score. At his best, Murphy can create mayhem in attack with his quick leading across half-forward and accurate disposal. The Swans have several candidates to go with him and Bolton has the discipline to limit his effectiveness.

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