Round Four: Sydney Swans v Essendon
Thursday, April 8, 2021. 7:20pm. Gates open from 5:20pm.
Sydney Cricket Ground

The Sydney Swans return to the SCG on Thursday night for their Round Four clash against Essendon.

After starting their season with victories over the Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers, the Swans enter this clash with plenty of confidence.

John Longmire has made one change for the clash, welcoming Lance Franklin back into the side with Hayden McLean making way.

Franklin played in Round Two before being managed, with the star forward kicking three goals in his first game in over a year.

Franklin has kicked more majors against Essendon than any other side during his 947-goal career.

Franklin with return to a forward line up that has provided a real spark to start the season. Chad Warner and Errol Gulden have impressed early in the season, both claiming NAB AFL Rising Star nominations along with Braeden Campbell.

The undefeated Swans face an Essendon side who secured a victory over St.Kilda in Round 3.

The opposition will be strengthened following their first win of the season last week, with skipper Dyson Heppell to return from a back injury, replacing the injured Mason Redman (hamstring).

Both teams will enter the clash high on confidence, with a 45-point victory over the defending premiers and a 75-point victory over St.Kilda for the Swans and Essendon respectively.

The Swans are back in action at the SCG on Thursday night when they face Essendon. Take the family and be there LIVE. Click here to purchase your tickets to the clash.

Coming to the game this week? Make sure you check out all the important Match Day Information in our handy Match Day Hub ahead of the game.

Where to watch

The game will be broadcast live on 7mate, Fox Footy and Kayo from 7pm. Radio broadcasts via Triple M, ABC and AFL Nation.

We have teamed up with pubs around Sydney to give our Sydney Swans members and fans a home away from home, whether the team is on the road or playing at the SCG. Check out our premium venues, including their food and beverage offers available to our Swans family at our Swans Friendly Venues.

Heading to the game? View our Match Day Hub.

Last Time We Met

Sydney Swans 11.7.73 def by Essendon 12.7.79 – Round 2, 2020

The stats

Essendon have came away victors in their last two clashes against the Swans, with less that two goals separating the sides on both occasions. The Swans last defeated Essendon in Round 8 of the 2019 season, when they came away with a 5-point victory in another close fixture. Essendon have won 3 of the last five clashes, but if you look further back, Sydney have won nine of the last twelve clashes.

Sydney have also won 9 of their last 10 home games against Essendon.

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The Sydney Swans have edged Essendon in another thrilling finish, this time by just three points at the SCG on Thursday night.

With Sydney clinging to a four-point lead late in the game, forward Lance Franklin took a mark and converted the set shot to record his third major of the night, the 950th of his career and his 73rd against Essendon, the most he has kicked against any club.

Essendon fought to the end, Sydney defender Dane Rampe making a desperate fingertip effort to prevent a goal, and Cale Hooker did boot a major, but time ran out for the visitors as they went down by three points.

It was the fifth time in their past seven contests the game had been settled by 10 points or less, Sydney winning 11.17 (83) to 12.8.(80).

The Swans have captivated the AFL community with their free-flowing style, scoring over 100 points in each of their first three wins, but on Thursday night they proved they can win ugly and come from behind.

The Bombers kicked six straight goals either side of quarter-time to lead by 25 points.

Jake Stringer kicked a couple of early goals and Darcy Parish was also prominent in the Bombers' surge.

During that period, the Bombers' increased intensity prevented the Swans playing the swift incisive football which was a hallmark of their first three games.

Sydney rallied to kick the last five goals of the half to lead by five points at the long break.

It wasn't until the Swans' final major of the half that they produced the dazzling end-to-end flow they have become renowned for.

Sam Reid's second goal expanded Sydney 's lead to 11 points, but both sides kicked three majors in the term, which ended with Essendon ahead by a point.

Essendon's Alec Waterman landed a set shot from just inside 50m for the first goal of the last quarter but Justin McInerney replied in kind to level the score.

Sydney then took control but missed multiple opportunities, logging four straight behinds, including a poster from Tom Papley, before Franklin kicked the clincher.

The Swans dominated clearances and had 31 more contested possessions, with Luke Parker collecting 32 touches.

Sydney suffered a blow in the second quarter when Isaac Heeney was forced off the ground with a broken hand and replaced by James Bell, Sydney's first medical substitute of the season.

Heeney had looked in good form before his setback, grabbing six marks.

Close encounters of the fourth kind
These two sides have built an incredible tradition of close encounters, and this was their fourth game in a row to finish within 10 points. Essendon won their only meeting last year by six points, thanks in part to a late goal by Darcy Parish. The Bombers got up by 10 points in round 16 of 2019, while the Swans won earlier in the year by five points when David Myers’ shot after the siren fell short. Start counting down to round 20, when they meet again at Marvel Stadium.

Injury-free run broken
Sydney has mostly enjoyed a blessed run with injuries this season, and hadn’t been forced into using its medical substitute before the clash with Essendon. But that all changed when Isaac Heeney broke his right hand early in the second quarter. The 24-year-old had started the game well, looking dangerous across half-forward as he picked up seven touches and six marks, but it looked ominous when he came off nursing a sore hand and went straight down to the Swans’ rooms. James Bell was immediately told to start warming up and was subbed on soon after.

SYDNEY          2.5     7.9     9.11     11.17     (83)
ESSENDON     4.1     7.4     10.6     12.8     (80)

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 3, Reid 2, McInerney 2, Parker, Florent, Mills, Papley
Essendon: Stringer 3, Hooker 3, Waterman 2, Cox, Smith, Parish, Jones

BEST
Sydney: Parker, Warner, Lloyd, Mills, Gulden, Kennedy
Essendon: Merrett, Ridley, Stringer, Parish, Cox

INJURIES
Sydney: Heeney (right hand)
Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: James Bell (replaced Isaac Heeney)
Essendon: David Zaharakis (unused)

Crowd: 28,039 at the SCG