Top four is off the table for the Sydney Swans, but a win over the Gold Coast Suns would still be ideal as they look to head into finals in top form. Tune into the action from Marvel Stadium with live scores on The Roar from 1:45pm (AEST).
The Swans were shocked by the Suns earlier in the season, and will be smarting for revenge in this one. John Longmire’s team have been one of 2021’s biggest improvers, rising from consecutive bottom-four seasons to be a legitimate flag contender.
As for the Suns, it has been another frustrating year for Stuart Dew, entrenching themselves as the AFL’s problem child. Fifteenth on the ladder with a percentage of only 80, as well as a number of horror losses, Dew’s job is under threat as the Suns continue to stagnate near the bottom.
Lance Franklin is back for the Swans, as is Callum Mills from his troublesome Achilles issue; but co-captain Josh Kennedy has been managed for this clash, while Nick Blakey is done for the season with an ankle injury. At the Suns, veteran and games record holder Jarrod Harbrow has been named for one last match before retirement.
Opening bounce: 1:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
TV: Fox Sports 3
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Swans $1.20, Suns $4.50 (odds via PlayUp)
Sydney Swans
B: 7 Harry Cunningham, 43 Lewis Melican, 24 Dane Rampe (c)
HB: 34 Jordan Dawson, 30 Tom McCartin, 44 Jake Lloyd
C: 27 Justin McInerney, 14 Callum Mills, 13 Oliver Florent
HF: 45 Sam Wicks, 5 Isaac Heeney, 9 Will Hayward
F: 41 Hayden McLean, 23 Lance Franklin, 11 Tom Papley
FOL: 31 Tom Hickey, 29 George Hewett, 26 Luke Parker (c)
I/C: 8 James Rowbottom, 16 Braeden Campbell, 21 Errol Gulden, 38 Colin O’Riordan
EMG: 1 Chad Warner, 4 Ryan Clarke, 18 Callum Sinclair, 42 Robbie Fox
IN: Callum Mills, Jake Lloyd, Lance Franklin, Colin O’Riordan (R22 medical sub)
OUT: Josh Kennedy, Nick Blakey, Robbie Fox, Sam Reid
Gold Coast Suns
B: 27 Wil Powell, 25 Sam Collins, 23 Sean Lemmens
HB: 5 Jarrod Harbrow, 10 Charlie Ballard, 24 David Swallow (c)
C: 44 Darcy MacPherson, 11 Touk Miller, 2 Rory Atkins
HF: 29 Chris Burgess, 13 Jack Lukosius, 6 Alex Sexton
F: 19 Josh Corbett, 34 Ben King, 9 Ben Ainsworth
FOL: 32 Zac Smith, 15 Noah Anderson, 30 Alex Davies
I/C: 8 Brayden Fiorini, 18 Matt Rowell, 40 Joel Jeffrey, 50 Jy Farrar
EMG: 7 Will Brodie, 21 Jacob Townsend, 26 Sam Flanders, 37 Jeremy Sharp
IN: Jarrod Harbrow, Alex Davies (debut), Rory Atkins (R22 medical sub)
OUT: Jack Bowes, Jacob Townsend, Jeremy Sharp
Chris M
Guest
If the Swans keep on winning finals games this year, Buddy may yet kick his 1000th this season. That doesn't seem likely at this team's current stage of development, but it's possible as long as the players worry more about what they have to do to win each game rather than how to get the Bud to 1,000. That will take care of itself. The Swans draw next year may be harder than this year. If the Swans want to get into the top four in 2022, they need to keep Parker and Dawson, who are out of contract, and their young players need to continue to improve. They also need to retain the young players who are likely to progress into becoming elite. It will be interesting to see how they do that on a tight salary cap. Their VFL side isn't doing too well. Who is expendable from their list?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Sacking the coach never works. Sometimes it gives the team a mid-season bump and it can often be justified when the new coach has success. Brisbane sacked Justin Leppitsch and then Chris Fagan got a wooden spoon in his first year. Waiting until the end of the coach's contract is always the smartest way to go because it gives the next coach the signal that the club is fair to coaches. Ross Lyon said he wouldn't coach Collingwood because of the way they have handled Nathan Buckley's sacking. Why would he want to go to the Suns or the Blues after they'd sacked two coaches during rebuilds?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
No.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Handy behind the wickets too. However, this one is the first Japanese AFL player quietly debuting. Not that the idiot commentators did their research or had a clue who he has until he'd started to assert himself on the contest.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
CC-J would be a Suns target pretty high on their shopping list. He won't be cheap and Richmond will want to retain him, but the Suns have to go after players like him. Mabior Chol is an unrestricted free agent on Richmond's rookie list, so the Suns have a better chance of getting him for much less. Sam Weideman, Elliott Himmelberg and Jack Gunston are more likely targets than Levi Casboult, although the Suns were rumoured to be looking at him two years ago.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The Suns have played 7 games at Metricon Stadium this year. Much of the time the reasons for playing away or at neutral venues has been inexplicable. The Lions have been playing at the Gabba during a lockdown with Covid cases in the community, while the Gold Coast team was forced to leave town with 15 minutes notice and haven't returned in 4 weeks in spite of zero cases. The Suns played all 17 teams last year for 5 wins, a draw and 11 losses. This they have played the Bulldogs, Lions, Swans, Blues and Kangaroos twice for 3 wins and 7 losses. A bottom 6 side playing 3 top 6 sides twice, mostly away from home, doesn't sound like competition equalisation to me, but it's just bad luck. Today's game had only 13 Suns players from the previous game against Sydney 4 months ago, while the Swans had a far stronger side for the return game with Buddy, Rampe and Hickey giving them a much improved spine.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
2019: 3 wins 2020: 5 wins 2021: 7 wins Seems like steady improvement to me.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Haha :thumbup:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea true mate no doubt not having a go at Swans choice He’s a great player & a wonderful servant of the game & clearly a brilliant clubman
.kraM
Roar Rookie
No doubt but 14-17 is some pretty damn good footy and well worth the $$$.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Spot on.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Come clean. You didn’t even watch it. You follow Richmond and their game was on at the same time. My god you are repetitive in your Suns hatred. I mean, I know the Suns have beaten the Tigers and basically ruined their season three times now, so you have motivation, but you are worse than a broken record. Say something worth reading! Unless you are a bot. I actually think that could be why your banal calls for Dew to be sacked seem copied and pasted.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Sydney is a well coached and balanced side. What I admire the most is their depth at every position, which means that players have to be in form or else they go back to the twos. Could be looking at a game vs GWS next week
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Haha yep your spot on! Been injured,Hawks had the best of his career!
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Do you think Sydney got value for money for Buddy? No flags. Missed all of 2020. Only 3 full seasons. I'm not convinced he was worth it, but then again the Swans paid for half of it out of COLA.
Angela
Roar Rookie
An excellent result. This has been an unexpected brilliant season for the Swans, even if they do only manage one finals game this season, however, I live in hope.
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
He hasn't a chance in he'll with that team..only about 4 players up to it...
The Ghost
Guest
This an absolutely pathetic effort. Surely Dew has coached his last game. Another year, another bottom four finish.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
20 goals plus. Hussar!
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