Round 10 kicks off with a bang on Friday night, as the Sydney Swans host the undefeated North Melbourne Kangaroos at the SCG. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
Sydney have been quietly going about their business so far in 2016, and find themselves in the top four yet again.
This will be their second straight Friday nighter, following their best win of the season to date last weekend over Hawthorn, with Lance Franklin kicking three in the win.
This North Melbourne side is a whole new challenge however, and the Swans may struggle to stop their three talls in the forward line.
The Kangaroos had an easy 67-point win over the Blues last weekend. Todd Goldstein was his dominant self, with Nick Dal Santo and Jack Ziebell the primary beneficiaries of his ruckwork. Jarrad Waite may be the form forward in the AFL to this point, playing the best football of his career to date.
But with a tough stretch coming up, any confidence gained out of this match-up is a bonus for the Roos.
The Swans have made one change for this clash, but it’s a big one considering the opponent. Ted Richards will miss with a concussion, meaning youngster Harrison Marsh will play his first game of AFL football.
North have two big ins for this clash, with both Daniel Wells and Sam Wright ready to go, meaning Aaron Mullett and Farren Ray miss out.
As mentioned above, the Kangaroos boast the best tall attack in all of football. Add in Goldstein and a solid midfield, and you can see why this side is playing from the front. The loss of Richards could be a big one for the Swans, who are slightly lacking in key defenders.
Prediction
Home-cooking should get the chocolates here, although it’ll be a dogfight the whole way.
Swans by 7
Perry Bridge
Guest
Hewett is an expert at this already - shouldn't have been paid as he was far more going to ground than simply lowering the shoulder. Hewett does it very dangerously.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Had Brown got that and made it a 14 pt game it might well have got interesting. Alas, the North fight fizzled out as the minutes ticked by.
Perry Bridge
Guest
That was a mini highlight - a couple of years ago in the GF is was Jetta and Rioli, this was every bit as good. Ironic he got done for 'too far'. A couple of earlier Swans going for a run got tackled and (incl Rohan) should have been done for prior/incorrect disposal. Seemed the only free kicks the umpires were confident to pay all night were the 'too high' frees. Although - in the case of George Hewett who is already an expert in it - some of those shouldn't be getting paid.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Petrie isn't strong enough under the ball any more - lost too much 'size' in that respect so he can run up the ground and back again. I've seen Grundy work him under the ball all too easily at Etihad last year. Ben Brown as well - get's worked under the ball too easily. Ironically enough - the one North tall who can hold his positioning under the ball is Majak Daw who very, very rarely gets out marked. But - apparently it's more important to apply a couple of tackles than clunking F50 marks. ah well.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
And the Gabba is a mere 7 metres longer and 2 metres wider, but I never hear complaints about its size. Harry, are you suggesting that sides that play at the SCG can only have 17 on the ground at one time? The WACA at the same dimensions had some great games and no one said anything about its length either Play to the ground, Hawthorn does and look where it gets them
Synick
Guest
Agree with HH. SCG well outside the general optimum requirements for the game. But AFL HQ would be very happy with Sydney's huge advantage. Having said that all clubs enjoy a home advantage to differing extent. But Sydney the most.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Harry, I see you've got a bit of a peev about the dimensions of the SCG. Have you actually been to a game there? Of the grounds I have been to in Melb, Perth and Sydney, it is easily the best venue for a spectator. Yes the dimensions make a difference to the style of play, but there are no grounds that are remotely the same, so from an advantage perspective, it's a non issue. Only genuine option is for AFL to dictate all grounds have to be exactly the same (never going to happen). Also, does not detract from the overall spectacle...........for every team tactic you may like or dislike, there is the opportunity for the opposition to exploit or not.
TomC
Roar Guru
Good votes, Joel.
Bigstu
Guest
Thanks for the commentary, didn't get to watch the game. Managed to read it from the bottom without seeing who had won beforehand, and I tipped the swans.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Well Sydney won but it was the worst friday night game i have seen for a wile, i reckon the SCG is just a tad small for AFL football, the game is just to congested for my liking.
Josh
Expert
Well, bummer.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
MVP VOTING 3. Tom Mitchell: Easily the best game of his career, as he picked up 41 touches to go with 8 marks and 10 tackles. Also picked up 5 clearances and a goal in a complete performance. 2. Josh Kennedy: 35 disposals, 7 clearances and 12 tackles. 22 of his possession were contested, and he really set up the win with a massive first quarter. 1. Dan Hannebery: Hannebery was solid, if not spectacular. He had some great moments, but was also wasteful at times. However, you can't argue with 34 touches and 6 clearances. Add an equal game-high 8 inside 50's to that, and you've got yourself a good game.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME The Swans have handed the Kangaroos their first loss of the season, using a big second half to run out 26-point winners. It all started in the middle, as Kennedy, Hannebery, and Mitchell all dominated to hand Sydney the ascendency. It was a quick start for the Swans, as they kicked six of the first seven goals of the match. Franklin got two of those, while Kennedy picked up 13 disposals to the first break. It was all North Melbourne in the second though, as they managed to peg back the Swans with a tough brand of contested footy. A few bad misses though saw them go into the main break with a 9-point deficit. The Swans controlled proceedings from that point forward, as they fully deserve their win. The Roos didn't look like winning at any stage in the second half, and it could have been a bigger win if not for some fourth quarter inaccuracy. The Swans jump into second on the ladder with this win, while the Kangaroos will keep their grasp on first place. Thanks for joining The Roar for this match, and be sure to stick with us for all your weekend footy needs.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 0' Wells snags the ultimate consolation goal, as he snaps a nice one with the outside of the boot. Siren only seconds away. Swans 14.7 91 Kangaroos 9.11 65
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND SWANS 1' Gary Rohan tries to take on Shaun Atley, but he has run to far. Atley probably had him regardless. The Swans will win the footy back though, and Hewett marks all by himself 15 from goal. His kick is terrible though, as he leaves it out to the right. Swans 14.7 91 Kangaroos 8.11 59
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND KANGAROOS 3' Waite can't mark in the pocket, but Nahas will run onto the loose footy. He decides to ignore Boomer to take his own shot, but he misses. Swans 14.6 90 Kangaroos 8.11 59
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND KANGAROOS 4' Drew Petrie wins a turnover at half forward, and he handballs to Sam Gibson. Gibson will have a shot from 50, but he's off to the right. Swans 14.6 90 Kangaroos 8.10 58
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND SWANS 4' Kieren Jack handballs off to Franklin, and he'll have a fly from 60. He's got plenty of distance, but it's off to the left. He's just a few straight kicks away from having a massive night. Swans 14.6 90 Kangaroos 8.9 57
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
6' Zak Jones puts it out of bounds on the full looking to go inside 50. Wright will take the kick, but he kicks it straight to McVeigh. Swans 14.5 89 Kangaroos 8.9 57
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS 7' The Swans could run away here. Mitchell and Parker combine well, as Franklin takes a mark on the lead. He's only 35 from goal, and he puts it through!!! Swans 14.5 89 Kangaroos 8.9 57