One of the most highly anticipated fixtures on the Sydney Swans calendar is almost here with Marn Grook at the SCG on this Friday. Read all the top headlines ahead of Round 10 in this week's special edition of Red and White News, presented by 7+Sport.
History of Marn Grook at the SCG
The Marn Grook tradition returns to the SCG this Friday night, when the Sydney Swans host Collingwood in Round 10.
Sydney’s first Marn Grook match was played three years before the first Dreamtime game and five years before the AFL’s first full Indigenous Round.
It was May 25, 2002, and the first AFL game played at the Sydney Olympic Stadium, now Accor Stadium. The Swans hosted Essendon in a two-point thriller in front of 54,129 people.
Read more about the origins of Marn Grook and the history behind the Goodes-O'Loughlin Medal for Best on Ground here.
What's on this Friday
Celebrate the traditions of Marn Grook at the SCG by heading to Moore Park early this Friday.
The VFL will be on from 2:00pm on Tramway Oval, before the Sellers & Colless Centre, Sydney Swans HQ open for festivities from 4:00pm with live entertainment, food, drinks, games and competitions to be won.
Plus, be sure you try our Indigenous Round feature sausage, created in partnership with Plate It Forward and LP Butchers (Chippendale): Wild Boar & Saltbush Sausage, served with Aniseed Myrtle Onions and Davidson Plum Ketchup.
Driver Avenue will also be pumping with our usual fan offerings, while inside the stadium you can find more Marn Grook food and drinks specials thanks to Merivale.
Get all the key details and timings here.
150 games for Rowbottom
James Rowbottom is set to play his 150th game this Friday when the team runs out on the SCG, earning him life membership with the Sydney Swans.
The midfielder was recruited to the red and white with pick 25 in the 2018 AFL Draft before making his debut the following year in Round 5 against Richmond. The 25-year-old received the Barry Round Best Clubman Award in 2025, and place third for Club Champion in 2022 and 2023.
Cox: "We've had some great battles with them..."
Senior coach Dean Cox appeared in his weekly press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Speaking to the media, the senior coach said the squad were expecting a tough contest come Friday night.
"(Collingwood has) always been up for the fight and they always will be. And we've had some great battles with them, certainly here at the SCG. We prepare for that 23 to play their best and their team to play their best."
Key personnel a test
In this week's injury update it was revealed Charlie Curnow and Tom McCartin are a test to play against Collingwood this Friday after abdominal soreness and a knee injury, respectively. Jai Serong is also a test after reporting hamstring tightness after Round 8.
Meanwhile, Matt Roberts will be sidelined for 2 - 4 weeks as he is managed for groin soreness.
See the full injury update, here.
