Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair has rung the warning bells ahead of a string of Swans games against sides in hot pursuit of a finals berth.
The Swans last Friday overcame a West Coast Eagles outfit that headed into the game sitting in first on the ladder, but their draw isn’t about to get any easier.
They will meet Richmond at Etihad Stadium next Thursday night in a top-of-the-table blockbuster full of captivating match-ups.
It will be the first time in history the Swans and Tigers have met in a first-versus-second battle.
The clubs last met in a top-of-the-table clash in Round 6, 1934 and would go on to face off in the grand final later in the season.
Sydney will then return to the SCG for a giant stoush with the Geelong Cats before butting heads with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Swans are scheduled for a bye this week and Sinclair says the difficulty of opposition that awaits isn't lost on the team.
“As a playing group we’ve spoken about the next month being really crucial to seeing how our season is going to end up,” Sinclair said.
“We’re playing some really quality sides over the next month so it’s going to give us a real gauge of where we’re at. It will help us in the long run knowing we’ve played these teams a couple of times.”
The first-placed Tigers have won 10 games and lost three and are this week enjoying a bye round of their own.
The second-placed Swans will take on the Tigers with a 10-3 record of their own, with percentage separating the competition’s front-runners ahead of the Round 15 clash.
Go-to Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt has booted 30 goals from 13 games this season to be running fifth in the race for the Coleman Medal.
Forward Josh Caddy has kicked 28 goals in strong support for Riewoldt, while the likes of the smaller and speedier Shane Edwards, Daniel Rioli and Jason Castagna are also playing important roles in the Tigers’ forward 50.
Reigning Brownlow and Norm Smith Medallist Dustin Martin is Richmond’s biggest threat, while skipper Trent Cotchin is also vital to his side’s midfield.
Star Sydney forward Lance Franklin will have the attention of one of the best key defenders in the competition in Richmond’s Alex Rance, while Sinclair is set to meet former Swans teammate Toby Nankervis.
The big man played 12 games for the Swans before swapping red and white for the yellow sash ahead of the 2017 season.
Although the Swans are this week enjoying a bye, Sinclair said the Tigers were at the forefront of their minds.
“We’re in the middle of the season so basically your whole life is consumed by footy and worrying about who you’re coming up against,” Sinclair said.
“We all know how well Richmond is going so it’s really exciting and to play Thursday night in Melbourne will be a good opportunity for us.”
The former Eagle expects a bumper crowd.
“If you’re going to go to Melbourne to play the Tigers it doesn’t really matter where you’re playing – they’re going to have a pretty big army there,” Sinclair said.
“But we’ve got great supporters in Melbourne as well. Every game we’ve played down there this year we’ve really noticed the South Melbourne supporters coming out.
“It should be exciting and it should be a good hit-out.”
