WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Saturday August 25, 4.40pm
?LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 16.10 (106) d Hawthorn 10.9 (69), round five, 2012 at Aurora Stadium
?TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Saturday's Match Day Information
The eyes of the football world will be on the sold out SCG as the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn do battle for top spot. The winner will move into the box seat to claim the minor premiership, and the loser will face the prospect of an away qualifying final. It's a not-to-be-missed high stakes clash featuring two fired up flag contenders.
THE FOUR POINTS
SYDNEY SWANS
1. Swans star Adam Goodes made a sparkling return to form against the Western Bulldogs last weekend, gathering 22 disposals, laying five tackles and booting three goals. The club's games record holder has an excellent record against Hawthorn, too, having booted three goals and collected more than 20 touches in three of the teams' past four clashes.
2. Former Hawk Josh Kennedy was instrumental in the Swans' win over Hawthorn in round five, amassing 27 disposals, including five clearances, in a best on ground display. Kennedy was allowed to leave Waverley because the Hawks couldn't find opportunity for him among the likes of Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis. He'll be eager to make the decision come back to haunt them again.
3. After a blistering season in which he has emerged as an All Australian candidate, speedy half-forward Lewis Jetta has slowed slightly in recent weeks in the face of close attention from opposition taggers. He found himself being shadowed by Bulldog Liam Picken last Sunday and could muster only 13 touches and one goal. The Hawks don't have an obvious match-up for Jetta, aside from perhaps Paul Puopolo, who has played as a defensive forward for much of the year.
4. The Swans have sat at or near the top of the ladder all season long, but have not attracted the fanfare of the Hawks or other premiership fancies. Earlier wins over Hawthorn in Launceston and West Coast in Perth should have been enough to convince the doubters, but the home loss to Collingwood a fortnight ago raised the questions again. A win on Saturday and the Harbour City team will secure a home final, making their flag chances hard to ignore.
HAWTHORN
1. Up until round nine last season, the Hawks had a dreadful record at the SCG, having lost 10 of 11 matches dating back to 1996. But, after coach Alastair Clarkson took the unusual step of telling players to hand in their phones for last year's trip, his players responded by banishing the hoodoo to the tune of 46 points.
2. Lance Franklin's inclusion for this week's match will be crucial, for the key forward was superb in last year's SCG win. The big Hawk had 28 touches and kicked six goals, earning three Brownlow Medal votes. He'll have his work cut out repeating that performance though after six weeks out and facing in-form Swans key defender Ted Richards.
3. The Hawks' loss to John Longmire's men in round five this season started in the midfield. Led by Kennedy, the Swans dominated at clearances, and racked up 55 more disposals in a lop-sided third quarter. Hawthorn's on-ball brigade will be desperate to make up for that drubbing this time around.
4. Small forwards often find consistency difficult to achieve, but Luke Breust has certainly managed it this season. The former junior rugby league star from Temora in NSW kicked at least two goals in 12 straight games from rounds eight to 20. His run finally came to an end against Gold Coast on Sunday, when he booted 1.3. With Cyril Rioli out with a shoulder injury, Breust could find himself receiving close attention from Nick Smith.??
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
?LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 16.10 (106) d Hawthorn 10.9 (69), round five, 2012 at Aurora Stadium
?TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Saturday's Match Day Information
The eyes of the football world will be on the sold out SCG as the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn do battle for top spot. The winner will move into the box seat to claim the minor premiership, and the loser will face the prospect of an away qualifying final. It's a not-to-be-missed high stakes clash featuring two fired up flag contenders.
THE FOUR POINTS
SYDNEY SWANS
1. Swans star Adam Goodes made a sparkling return to form against the Western Bulldogs last weekend, gathering 22 disposals, laying five tackles and booting three goals. The club's games record holder has an excellent record against Hawthorn, too, having booted three goals and collected more than 20 touches in three of the teams' past four clashes.
2. Former Hawk Josh Kennedy was instrumental in the Swans' win over Hawthorn in round five, amassing 27 disposals, including five clearances, in a best on ground display. Kennedy was allowed to leave Waverley because the Hawks couldn't find opportunity for him among the likes of Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis. He'll be eager to make the decision come back to haunt them again.
3. After a blistering season in which he has emerged as an All Australian candidate, speedy half-forward Lewis Jetta has slowed slightly in recent weeks in the face of close attention from opposition taggers. He found himself being shadowed by Bulldog Liam Picken last Sunday and could muster only 13 touches and one goal. The Hawks don't have an obvious match-up for Jetta, aside from perhaps Paul Puopolo, who has played as a defensive forward for much of the year.
4. The Swans have sat at or near the top of the ladder all season long, but have not attracted the fanfare of the Hawks or other premiership fancies. Earlier wins over Hawthorn in Launceston and West Coast in Perth should have been enough to convince the doubters, but the home loss to Collingwood a fortnight ago raised the questions again. A win on Saturday and the Harbour City team will secure a home final, making their flag chances hard to ignore.
HAWTHORN
1. Up until round nine last season, the Hawks had a dreadful record at the SCG, having lost 10 of 11 matches dating back to 1996. But, after coach Alastair Clarkson took the unusual step of telling players to hand in their phones for last year's trip, his players responded by banishing the hoodoo to the tune of 46 points.
2. Lance Franklin's inclusion for this week's match will be crucial, for the key forward was superb in last year's SCG win. The big Hawk had 28 touches and kicked six goals, earning three Brownlow Medal votes. He'll have his work cut out repeating that performance though after six weeks out and facing in-form Swans key defender Ted Richards.
3. The Hawks' loss to John Longmire's men in round five this season started in the midfield. Led by Kennedy, the Swans dominated at clearances, and racked up 55 more disposals in a lop-sided third quarter. Hawthorn's on-ball brigade will be desperate to make up for that drubbing this time around.
4. Small forwards often find consistency difficult to achieve, but Luke Breust has certainly managed it this season. The former junior rugby league star from Temora in NSW kicked at least two goals in 12 straight games from rounds eight to 20. His run finally came to an end against Gold Coast on Sunday, when he booted 1.3. With Cyril Rioli out with a shoulder injury, Breust could find himself receiving close attention from Nick Smith.??
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
