AFL will return to NSW on Friday night when we come up against cross-town rivals the GWS GIANTS on the SCG. Ahead of the blockbuster clash, Swans defender Nick Blakey joined the GIANTS' Lachie Ash in a joint press conference. 

Scroll below to see what "Lizard" had to say on the importance of the clash, criticism on the fixturing and the rivalry between Tom Papley and Toby Green. 

On the importance of the derby

"I think they're always big games. You know, a big rivalry and it's our home game this week and Friday night and on a big stage and we always set ourselves a big game so yeah, it's going to be on."

On the Swans' third quarter performance in the last derby

"To be honest, it's not really something we've spoken about yet. We obviously had a great half and then they came out and rolled us in the second half. I don't think you ever like losing like that, especially to our cross-town rivals. They got one over us at their home ground and now we get to come back out here and play it on our home ground and hopefully we can do it for four quarters."

On the rivalry

"I think when you've got Paps and you've got Toby Green going at each other it's always going to be pretty fiery. I think you look at all the big match-ups over the league and they're always pretty fiery and this one's no different. We all live around each other, we see each other a bit, everyone knows each other pretty well and I think it's all done in good spirit.

"We've got a tremendous amount of respect for the Giants and the way they go about it. It just happens to be that once we step over that white line it's on and friendships are off and everyone wants to win out there."

On the AFL fixturing for Friday night

"I don't have the answers, really. It's disappointing. It's a strange one. I don't know when there's last been two games on Friday night and why they've decided to do it now. I've got no idea. If you watch the games and the way both teams go about it, two competitive teams at the top of their game in the most competitive sporting market in the world.

"It doesn't make much sense. But come Friday night when that ball's bounced, it'll probably be the last thing we're thinking about. In future, if it happens again, then hopefully it can be a standalone fixture. But as I said, come Friday night, we're not going to be thinking about that too much."

On AFL returning to NSW

"We haven't played here for nearly three weeks or whatever it is. There's no better place for us to play than out here in front of our fans. Hopefully it's another packed out game with 40,000 here again. They always show up and get right behind us. It's been strange that we haven't played there for a bit, but I've got no doubt they'll turn up for us on Friday night."

On the Swans backline

"I think it's really pleasing. A lot of the stuff that gets spoken about is our offence and how much we score.. But what we really pride ourselves on is how we can defend and strangle the opposition.

"I think you look at Joel Hamling come in last week and arguably play on the best forward in the competition in Ben King. He did an unbelievable job. Then you've got Tommy McCartin that's just going strength to strength and Millsy back there as well. It's great to have our skipper back and really leading the way. I think it's pleasing to have seven or eight boys with Pell obviously starting the year and being a bit sore. Just having that group that can really play some more footy together and just keep going week in, week out. Have that same crew out there and get the job done."

On Isaac Heeney

"Well, I'm probably pretty biased. He's my teammate and one of my great mates and I get to see the way he goes about it day in, day out. I don't watch many of the footy shows and stuff like that, so I don't know if he does get spoken as the best player in the comp. But there's no reason why he shouldn't be right up there. There's obviously some unbelievable players in the competition.

"Everyone speaks about (Nick) Daicos and (Marcus Bontempelli) Bont and where Isaac sits in that. He's firmly in that conversation for mine and what he does for this footy team. Off the ball as much as what he does with the ball. He covers my ass a fair bit when I'm running and going on those silly runs and he's the one usually taking my man. He deserves everything but he's coming his way and he works incredibly hard at his game. There's no secrets why he's one of the best players in the competition."

On Charlie Curnow

"It mesmerises me, this fascination about Charlie and his performances. There's so much more to our team than Charlie just kicking ten goals every week. He takes the opposition's best defender. That's one of the hardest jobs in footy. Joel's played unbelievably. He gets a second defender. Paps crumbs goals and kicks them and that's come all off Charlie. I'll never quite understand why he cops so much.

"It's a completely different story if he goes back and kicks four straight last week in incredibly tough conditions in front of goal where it was blowing an absolute gale. As I've said a couple of times, I don't quite understand it. He's delivering for us in many ways than just kicking goals. It's going to be a good sight when he does kick a bag and hopefully everyone can lay off him a bit after that."

On Callum Mills

"He's going well. I mean, it was a big knock. It's pretty inspiring when your skipper goes back with the flight in front of their biggest player. He was obviously a bit sore the last couple of days. He just got a big cork in his back, so it was pretty understandable. He's as tough as they come, Millsy.

"I'm sure when it comes to Friday night, he'll be ready to go and I've got no doubt if he needs to go back with the flight again or anything like that, he'll be the first one to do it. He's an inspiring captain and we love playing behind him."