New chapter in a belting rivalry
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, June 14
A DECADE ago, matches between Sydney and West Coast were akin to a Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier bout.
Between 2005 and 2007, every game between the pair was worthy of a grand final, and two of them were.
Remarkably, each of the six matches played between the 2005 qualifying final in Perth and round one in 2007 at ANZ Stadium were decided by less than a kick.
On Friday night at the SCG the top-of-the ladder Eagles and third-placed Swans will look to rekindle that amazing rivalry and Sydney might have a slight edge.
Two of the great protagonists of that era, Dean Cox and Brett Kirk, will be sitting in the Swans’ coaching box.
Kirk was captain courageous for Sydney from the front and Cox was the greatest ruckman of the time leading the charge for West Coast.
“They were hard fought, man on man and contested which is why the battles were so great,” Cox told the Daily Telegraph.
“They (the Swans) prided themselves in that part of the game and so did we. We went head to head at it every time.”
Jack in line for Swans return in acid test against Eagles
Andrew Wu
SMH, June 14
Sydney veteran Kieren Jack is in the frame to return for Friday night's blockbuster against West Coast, with the Swans adamant his hip injury is not as serious as last year when he had an extended stint on the sidelines.
Jack was rested last week but will be a likely inclusion depending on how he pulls up from the club's closed training session on Wednesday.
The former captain played with a hip problem at the start of last season to provide experience to a Swans team in the midst of an injury crisis, but the move backfired as his form waned due to injury.
He was given seven weeks off to strengthen the joint, and his output improved in the second half of the season.
Swans coach John Longmire said his latest issue is due to a bump he received against Carlton a fortnight ago rather than a recurrence of his woes from last year.
"It's not as bad as that. Last year it was about his strength in that area, he's been able to get on top of that since he had that period out last year," Longmire said.
"He had a corky on the same hip last week which exaggerated the problem but it's a lot stronger than what it was last year.
"He ran Monday, [and] ran well, so that's a good sign he's in a lot better shape than what he was last year."
Looking to grin from Aliir to Aliir
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, June 14
If Aliir Aliir’s mohawk doesn’t catch John Longmire’s eye maybe his ear to ear grin will.
It’s clear to see the forgotten man of the Swans is trying everything in his playbook for a recall including excellent form in the NEAFL.
It might be just enough for the talented utility who is right on the cusp of a return to senior football for one of the biggest clashes of the year when Sydney host ladder leaders West Coast at the SCG tomorrow night.
The Sudanese refugee took the AFL by storm two years ago when he played 11 games at the back end of 2016, including three finals.
He hurt his knee in the preliminary final against Geelong and was a big out for Sydney’s grand final team who lost a thriller to the Western Bulldogs.
A combination of injuries and the rise of Lewis Melican and Harry Marsh have restricted him to just four games over the last two seasons.
Sydney Swans mull changes, Jack to return
AAP
SBS, June 13
Match committee meetings have rarely been straightforward this AFL season at the SCG, but that will ring particularly true ahead of Friday night's blockbuster between Sydney and West Coast.
The Swans, who are riding a five-match winning streak to sit third on the ladder, are yet to name an unchanged team this year.
That trend will continue in round 13, with coach John Longmire mulling how to stop the ladder-leading Eagles' 10-game winning run.
Veteran Kieren Jack will return from a hip injury, while defender Aliir Aliir might possibly be recalled to help shut down one of the league's most-potent forward lines.
Jack missed the Swans' last-start win over St Kilda, in which they kicked the opening nine goals of the game.
The 30-year-old was restricted badly last year by a hip injury, but Longmire indicated the latest problem was nowhere near as serious.
"He's pulled up well," Longmire said on Wednesday.
"It was important he didn't play last week; it gives him the best possible chance of playing this week. He's not over the line, he's got to train but he's a chance.
"He ran Monday and ran well, so that's a good sign that he's actually in a lot better shape than last year."
Classic West Coast Eagles, Sydney Swans rivalry reignited with both sides in top four
AAP
The West Australian, June 12
Sydney and West Coast's AFL rivalry has been reignited, with the top-four teams to square off in their most meaningful clash since the 2006 grand final.
The Swans and Eagles meet at the SCG on Friday night in what has the potential to be one of the highlights of the regular season, with both sides in cracking form and widely expected to progress deep into September.
Ladder leaders West Coast will be refreshed after the bye, seeking to an extend a 10-match winning streak.
Sydney, so far the only side to beat the Eagles this season, have now won five on the trot. They were awesome last Saturday night, blitzing St Kilda with the opening nine goals of a lopsided match.
Swans great Jude Bolton, who tackled the Eagles some 22 times during a storied 325-game career that ended in 2013, believes it's the biggest clash between the rivals since the 2006 grand final.
"Definitely. It faded out a little bit after that period, there's been some quality games between the two clubs over the last 10 years but this is one where it just means everything," Bolton told AAP.
"Particularly for the Swans. It's on their home deck and a good opportunity to really set the scene. They haven't had a great run at the SCG this year, so it's an important game.
"They almost need some validation. They've been going well without setting the world on fire.
"To put St Kilda away like they did was super impressive but this is now a huge challenge. The Eagles have had an incredible start to the year, I've been really impressed with their mids."
