The Sydney Swans travel to Melbourne to take on Richmond in Round 13 this Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

Richmond is never an easy proposition at the MCG, especially considering the Swans recent form, highlighted by a 90-point loss to the Adelaide Crows in Round 12.

The Tigers’ form has been solid of late, narrowly losing to the Giants by just 3-points having led the match all game apart from the final minutes. Senior players Dion Prestia (31 disposals), Jacob Hopper (29 disposals) and Tim Taranto (23 disposals & 2 goals) were impressive for the Tigers while youngster Hugo Ralphsmith continues to improve.

For the Swans, the last two weeks have been disappointing, with coach Dean Cox ringing the changes after their loss to the Crows. Joel Hamling, Caiden Cleary and Caleb Mitchell have all been omitted, while Matt Roberts (sickness) and Peter Ladhams will miss the match.

Captain Callum Mills returns from suspension, Sam Wicks, Tom Hanily and Aaron Francis are welcomed back into the senior side, while Harry Cunningham has been named to play his first game of the season.

Noah Balta comes back in for the Tigers at the expense of Campbell Gray, who’s been omitted.

The last time these two sides met, Richmond upset the Swans at the MCG by 5-points back in Round 3 last season. Tim Taranto was outstanding on that day for the Tigers while Jake Lloyd was the best of the Swans.

Tigers coach Adem Yze said he’s expecting the Swans to be at their best, despite their recent form.

“You always do (expect a response). They're a proud footy club and they made the Grand Final for a reason, so we'll plan on them bringing their best,” Yze said.

“They have got some talent in there...we understand what's coming.

“They obviously had the performance they had on the weekend but we're planning for their best. The opportunity to give some of our younger players the chance to play on some All-Australians…we're doing that, and we have been doing that throughout the season.

“We'll obviously go head-to-head with our midfield crew against them, but at some stage it'll be nice to see some of our younger players leaning against some of their superstars, Yze said.

First bounce on Saturday afternoon is at 1.20pm at the MCG.

After two heavy losses, Sydney have bounced back in the best way possible to defeat Richmond on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

Following a 90-point loss on their home deck in Round 12, there were some early signs that things might follow that path on the wintery MCG deck, but a flicked switch turned out to be a disappointing 44-point loss for Richmond.

An unanswered 10-goal run from Sydney resulted in the 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36) victory.

Richmond started the game full of energy, with strength at the contest and peppering its attacking 50, but what it couldn't do, however, was turn that dominance in field position into scores.

Its 14 inside 50s in the first quarter resulted in three goals from seven scores, but the side generated only 24 forward entries across the remainder of the game, including a goal drought spanning the better part of three quarters.

The tide turned in the other direction for Sydney as it found some confidence. The early margin wasn't nearly as worrying as it might have been, so its run of 10 consecutive goals not only mowed down the deficit, but turned it into a sizeable lead.

Generating space in attack, and effectively hitting runners on the open side, allowed fans to see glimpses of the Swans' DNA for the first time in several weeks.

Nick Blakey (34 disposals, 886 gained) seemed to get his dangerous run and touch back, and young midfielder Angus Sheldrick (19 disposals, five clearances) started to show the damaging player he was drafted to be.

Captain Callum Mills was also important in his return with 25 disposals alongside the consistent Isaac Heeney who had 25 disposals of his own. Chad Warner provided plenty of spark with 22 disposals and two goals and James Rowbottom was also at his tackling best with a game high 14 for the match.

The defensive 50 was the area of the ground that Richmond was at its best across the opening half. Where Vlastuin was being well-worn by Sydney stopper James Jordon (17 disposals, three goals), and forced to be accountable the other way, Noah Balta (eight intercepts) and Ben Miller (eight) were smart in their breakaway intercept work.

Once the Swans got running, the shifting and changing of their attack, where they worked to create pockets of space and generated repeat entries, started to ask some questions of Richmond's defence. No longer able to just pick off the high ball, but forced to fight it out on the deck.

Jordon's impact
James Jordon has become known across the League for his ability to shut a direct opponent out of the game, and it's not just through the midfield that he has been deployed – to great effect. It was masterful intercept defender Nick Vlastuin who was on the receiving end of the Jordon tag on Saturday afternoon, taking away the three-time premiership player's freedom with which he normally plays. Instead, he had to be accountable to the forward movements of Jordon, as the Swan finished with 17 disposals, seven marks, and a career-high three goals for the day in what was an impressive team-first outing. Vlastuin, however, was well-supported by his teammates. If he was unable to leave his direct opponent to impact the play, it was the likes of Noah Balta and Ben Miller who took on that role.

Highs and lows for Prestia
Dion Prestia looked like a world-beater in the opening quarter. With 13 disposals, three clearances and a goal to his name, he was the engine room around whom the rest of the Tigers' midfield was working. Prestia was the first port of call for Sydney coach Dean Cox to address at quarter-time. Reliable midfielder James Rowbottom stood alongside Prestia to open the second term, and didn't let him out of his sight, preventing the Tiger from touching the footy, and working Prestia out of the game so well that he didn't even register a tackle for the quarter. Prestia ultimately finished with 21 disposals and six clearances, a far cry from the impact he threatened to have.

No love lost
After returning Sydney captain Callum Mills laid a bump on Richmond defender Vlastuin before the opening bounce, tenacious Tiger Rhyan Mansell seemed to make it his goal to disrupt the run of Mills at every opportunity. Mansell was the first in to Mills after than initial bump, and once the Swan took up his position in defence, the Tiger was licking his lips at the prospect of a game-long matchup. At every opportunity Mansell worked to body Mills, a constant reminder of that early attempt to exert some physicality on the contest, with the battle only breaking when Mansell was substituted out of the game with a leg injury in the third quarter.

RICHMOND    3.4    3.7    3.8    4.12 (36)
SYDNEY         2.4    5.9    9.12   11.14 (80)

GOALS
Richmond: Campbell 2, Taranto, Prestia
Sydney: Jordon 3, Ch.Warner 2, Co.Warner, Heeney, Hayward, McLean, Grundy, Francis

BEST
Richmond: Taranto, Trainor, Balta, Miller, Nankervis
Sydney: Blakey, Jordon, McCartin, Rowbottom, Grundy, Heeney, Mills

INJURIES
Richmond: Mansell (leg)
Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh (replaced Rhyan Mansell in the third quarter)
Sydney: Taylor Adams (replaced Tom Hanily in the third quarter)

Crowd: 41,452 at the MCG