Curtain-raiser football features among a host of Hot Topics as the Sydney Swans gear up for a clash with the Brisbane Lions at the SCG on Saturday.

The Round 18 fixture will get underway at 3:45pm and roll out the red carpet for the senior side’s mouth-watering battle with Collingwood.

Big guns suit up

Injury-cruelled defender Alex Johnson has this week become the latest Swan to cast a light on the talent pool the NEAFL is. The 26-year-old, who will complete an astonishing comeback from five knee reconstructions and a long list of other surgeries to play his first senior match in 2136 days on Saturday, has received his shot at the big time off the back of impressive form in the NEAFL. Darcy Cameron, Harry Marsh, Jordan Foote and a number of other Swans on the fringe of AFL call-ups will be out to follow in his footsteps in the date with the Lions. All three players have earned a taste of the AFL limelight and will relish the chance to again put their skills on show against star-studded opposition.

Returning to winning ways

The Swans had hit full speed in a nine-game winning streak that catapulted them to first on the ladder after 15 rounds but in their most recent outing came to a halt. They led the Gold Coast Suns at quarter-time and the long break in Round 16 but would go on to lose by 23 points. Top spot on the ladder could again belong to the second-placed Swans if victorious in the match with the Lions.

Curtain-raiser footy for young guns

The AFL curtain-raiser will give Swans fans a glimpse of the future, with the likes of James Bell, Jake Brown and Angus Styles all set to lace up the boots. The Swans secured the signatures of Bell and Brown at last November’s rookie draft after the star duo had graduated from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, while the Club recruited Styles from the Sandringham Dragons at the same draft. The three youngsters have impressed with their top-end outside speed, growing game sense and abilities to play a number of positions.