The tale of the tape
The Sydney Swans have a mountain to scale in the second half of the season but took promising steps in Round 12 against the Western Bulldogs to suggest they're more than ready for the climb.
It feels like an eternity ago but the Swans put together, arguably, their best performance of 2017 to upstage last year's premiers by 46 points at the SCG.
It was win number four and, hopefully, the start of a remarkable comeback story.
Champion Data has given the red and white a hopeful 40 per cent chance of sneaking into the top eight by season's end. They are, after all, the form side of the competition having won four of their past five matches.
But, finals are a very big if and not even in the frame as the Swans focus all their energy on what lies ahead of them, and that's Richmond at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans can expect a much tougher assignment against the fourth-ranked Tigers who'll be well-rested coming off the bye and full of vigour after back-to-back wins against Essendon and North Melbourne prior to the break.
What we're doing right...
Many things, in fact.
The Sydney Swans hardly put a foot wrong against the Western Bulldogs. They got back to their ferocious and relentless best both in defence and around the ground, and the forward line reaped the rewards.
"The consistent pressure that we applied, we didn't let up on it at all," coach John Longmire said post match. "We put the opposition under enormous pressure when they had the ball and that turned into 71 inside 50s (to 39)."
Form says the Sydney Swans are the league's form team, winning four of the past five, plus they've scored the most (averaging 107.2 points for) and most stingiest (averaging 70.0 against) which must fill the playing group with a lot of confidence ahead of the flight to Melbourne.
Richmond meanwhile, while its form line isn't as impressive, winning two of the past five, have been the second best defence in the league in recent weeks (averaging 72.4 points against).
Knowing this, who's even more excited to see Lance Franklin take on Alex Rance in Saturday's blockbuster?
We certainly can't...
Taming the Tigers
Going by the statistical covfefe above, one can assume that if 'Buddy' and co can put a score on the board and penetrate the Tigers' outer defences then that'll be all she wrote.
But with Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin in superb touch of late, and with plenty of goal-kickers in Jack Reiwoldt and Daniel Rioli lurking, the conclusion won't be as straightforward.
Much of the commentary has been about what the Swans will to quell Martin but spend too much attention stopping one bloke and another pops up and does the damage which is why Richmond are in a nice position to have both Martin and Cotchin running around in fine touch.
He averages more than 25 disposals in 2017 so buyer beware for Sydney if they're thinking about throwing the kitchen sink at Martin.
Saying that, the Swans have some handy midfielders to contend the footy so don't be surprised to see the red and white back themselves, midfield v midfield, on Saturday.
Mighty match-ups
The midfield battle and Franklin's next meeting with Rance smacks everyone in the face as the must-see match-ups of this Round 13 cliffhanger.
And understandably so.
Both midfield divisions boast a lot of talent plus Franklin and Rance have had some big one-on-one contests over the stretch, of which 'Buddy' is 18.6 since 2014, including seven goals in their last year's blowout at the SCG.
But there's one particular match-up we're interesting in witnessing and that's ruck v ruck, or more specifically Sam Naismith v Toby Nankervis.
Assuming both will resume their roles on Saturday, the pairing will go head-to-head as their sides' respective number one ruckmen.
They were once teammates for a number of seasons, so know each other in and out, but both have had contrasting 2017s with Naismith dealing with an injury-interrupted year while Nankervis has enjoyed an exceptional year in his new colours.
They'll both have great midfields at their feet so whoever can be stronger in the contest and get their hands to the footy first to unleash said midfielders will come out on top.
Friends-now-foes - Toby Nankervis and Sam Naismith (left) - go head-to-head at training last year, Nankervis (right) at home in his new colours.
Who comes in?
It'll be a raffle when Match Committee comes together on Thursday to determine who'll they take for Saturday's clash at the MCG.
Will they go the safe option and go in unchanged? As the old saying goes ... if it ain't broke, why fix it?
Or, will they roll the dice and bring back a couple of old heads in a Kurt Tippett and/or Gary Rohan for a bit of a top up?
Both have been in and out of the senior line up this season due to injuries and form but the duo performed strongly for the NEAFL Swans last week to warrant selections if Longmire and co went down that path.
Harry Cunningham is available having overcome his ankle injury while there's a host of youngsters primed for a recall including Ollie Florent and Jordan Dawson.
