The Sydney Swans’ stoush with the Geelong Cats at the SCG on Thursday night promises to deliver a blockbuster.
The most recent Swans-Cats showdown, a towering Swan's milestone and a host of other Hot Topics surround the Round 16 encounter.
Last time they met
If the most recent clash between the Swans and Cats is of any indication, Thursday is set to play host to an enthralling affair. Sydney clinched a 17-point win at the Cattery in Round 6 but at three-quarter time trailed by 22 points. Captain Josh Kennedy was the catalyst in the epic come-from-behind victory, raking in 13 of his 33 possessions and six of his 13 clearances in the final term. The three-time Bob Skilton Medallist led the way for the Swans in a seven-goal-to-one last quarter to lift his side back into the winners’ circle.
Midfield bulls to meet
Two star-studded midfields will collide when battle-hardened Swans Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery butt heads with gun Cats Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. Ablett will return to the SCG for the first time since Round 2, 2013, when he faced Sydney in Gold Coast colours. The Little Master (2009, 2013) and Dangerfield (2016) have won three Brownlow Medals between themselves, while Selwood is a triple Geelong best and fairest. The three of them carry the torch for Geelong on the inside and outside of the contest, while Kennedy, Parker and Hannebery have long led the Swans in their trademark ferocity around the Sherrin. Kennedy was the best of the star trio in Sydney’s fierce duel with Richmond last week, raking in 36 possessions, nine tackles, eight clearances and six inside 50s. Swans tagger George Hewett could also be headed for an important task as he is likely to run with one of Ablett, Dangerfield or Selwood.
Grundy and Rampe set for giant duels
Dependable Sydney backmen Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe will take on mega challenges when they meet Tom Hawkins and Dangerfield. Hawkins’ powerful lead, strength overhead and accuracy off the boot makes him one of the most damaging forwards in the competition, while Dangerfield presents a massive threat of his own when resting as a forward. Grundy is likely to play on Hawkins, who has booted 28 goals across 12 games this season, while Dangerfield is tipped to have Rampe’s attention when rotating through Geelong’s forward line. Grundy and Rampe have met a host of formidable forwards this season, including Crow Taylor Walker, Eagle Josh Kennedy and Tiger Jack Riewoldt, and Hawkins and Dangerfield wait in the wings.
Bouncing back
The fourth-placed Swans and eighth-placed Cats remain in firm contention for a finals berth but both stumbled in their most recent outings. Sydney fell to Richmond in a 26-point loss at Etihad Stadium last Thursday night, while Geelong suffered a two-point defeat in a gripping showdown with the Western Bulldogs at the Docklands venue on Sunday. The Swans’ loss snapped a six-game winning streak as the Cats succumbed to a second defeat in a row. A Sydney loss on Thursday could see the Swans slip from the top four for the first time since Round 10, while a Geelong loss could result in the Cats giving up a top-eight position after sitting in third after Round 8. Expect the two sides to put everything on the line as they look to maintain a strong grip on their respective campaigns.
Sinclair’s 50th
Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair will join a long list of Swans to have reached milestone moments this year when he runs out for his 50th game in red and white. Hannebery (200 AFL games), Nick Smith (200) and Jake Lloyd (100) are just a number of Swans to have all ticked off big games in 2018. Sinclair took on a mountain of responsibility after the pre-season retirement of Kurt Tippett and season-ending knee injury to Sam Naismith, but the former Eagle has taken the primary rucking duties in his stride. He has battled hard against seasoned campaigners Nic Naitanui, Sam Jacobs and Aaron Sandilands and is averaging 30 hit-outs per game. The 200-centimetre big man (10) has also booted the most goals of all go-to ruckmen in the competition this season and Rhys Stanley looms as his next rucking challenge.
