The Sydney Swans host GWS in the fourth Sydney Derby, and the first to be held at the SCG
SUMMARY
The Sydney Swans head into the fourth derby, and the first at the SCG, in solid form following wins over Carlton and Melbourne. The premiers know they need to keep winning if they are to stay in the hunt for the top four. But they have plenty of injury worries, with Sam Reid tearing his quad for a second time against the Demons, adding his name to a list that includes Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta, Rhyce Shaw and Lewis Roberts-Thomson.
Their cross-town rivals are still searching for their first victory of 2013. GWS was extremely competitive against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra last weekend, leading at every change before succumbing by just four points. They will also be buoyed by their previous clash with the Swans, when they overcame a poor start to get in front in the second term before ultimately falling short by 30 points.
R1, 2013, Sydney Swans 16.10 (106) d GWS 11.10 (76) at ANZ Stadium
R14, 2012, Sydney Swans 19.18 (132) d GWS 5.8 (38) at ANZ Stadium
R1, 2012, Sydney Swans 14.16 (100) d GWS 5.7 (37) at ANZ Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. GWS will need to crank up their defence if they are a chance to knock off the premiers for the first time. They concede an AFL-worst 137 points per game, while the Swans are second in the AFL at 75 points per contest.
2. The Swans are the AFL's top-ranked clearance side, averaging 44.1 per game, with GWS sitting 14th with 35.8 per match.
3. Callan Ward had an unusually quiet day against the Bulldogs, dropping him from 24th to 28th overall in the Official AFL Player Ratings. He is still the highest ranked GWS player. The Swans currently have two players in the top 10, Josh Kennedy (fifth) and Kieren Jack (eighth).
4. Kevin Sheedy will coach against the Swans for the 49th and final time. His record against the Sydney-based club is 27 wins, 20 losses and one draw.
5. While Sheedy has a strong record against the Swans, he was involved in the reigning premiers' biggest ever victory at the SCG – a 163-point belting of Essendon in round 17, 1987.
6. The Swans are the AFL's top tackling team again this season, laying 1061 for the year to date. GWS have been a little down in that category in year two, ranked 17th with 798 tackles so far in 2013.
A look back at a special few days in Adelaide for our 2026 Gather Round Getaway Tour.
01:27
Round 6 Team Selection
Hear from Swans Director of Coaching and Performance Simon Goodwin as he goes over the one change for Sydney Derby XXXII. Team Selection, presented by QBE
14:21
"He deserves to be spoken about" - Cox
Hear from Swans senior coach Dean Cox as he addresses the media ahead of Sydney Derby XXXII
07:32
The Heroes of Horsham
Local footy clubs are so important to small communities around the country, so we paid a special visit to those who had an impact on Bloods legend Adam Goodes, and club stalwart, Jake Lloyd
Ahead of Friday night’s Derby at the SCG, Peter Blucher takes a closer look at the stats behind the battle of the Sydney teams.
Sydney Swans race to 70,000 members in club-record time
The club’s official membership tally of 70,361 is the earliest we have ever reached the milestone in any one season.
One change for Derby XXXII
Sydney Swans senior coach Dean Cox has made one change to his side, ahead of the huge Friday night Sydney Derby against the Giants.
Callan Ward joins Brett Kirk as namesake of Sydney Derby Best on Ground Medal
The medal awarded to the Best on Ground player during the AFL Sydney Derby will now be known as the Kirk-Ward Medal, bearing the names of GWS GIANTS great Callan Ward and Sydney Swans legend Brett Kirk to honour both clubs’ icons of the game.