The Sydney Swans are headed for a clash with a St Kilda outfit flying off the back of a seven-goal-to-one final term in a match with the competition’s front-runners.
The Saints inflicted a late scare as they fell to the West Coast Eagles in a 13-point loss at Perth’s Optus Stadium and will host the Swans at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Former Swan Tim Membrey collected 20 possessions and six goals to lead the way in the Saints’ gutsy effort and Sydney coach John Longmire says his side is set for a challenge.
“Seven goals to one in the last quarter they kicked, so that was at their best and they’ll get some confidence from that – there’s no question,” Longmire said.
“We’re looking at the Saints this week and we’ll be looking at that seven-goal-to-one last quarter and making sure we put enormous pressure on their players and applying the sort of footy that we want to apply. That’s all that our focus is this week.
“Membrey is a good player. He’s been having some shots on goal which is a real credit to the way he works. He’s working really hard and he was able to hit the scoreboard with a bit of confidence on the weekend.”
A win over St Kida would pencil in a fifth win on the trot for Sydney and consolidate the side’s position in the top four.
Sydney trailed Carlton at half-time at the SCG last Friday night but jumped to five third-term goals to the Blues’ zero to pave the way for victory in the Round 11 fixture.
The Swans (32 points) sit a win clear of the fifth-placed Geelong Cats (28) and after the clash with the Saints will meet the Eagles at the SCG next Friday night before enjoying a bye.
The Swans have won eight games and lost three and will be looking to keep intact an undefeated record on the road as they cross swords with the 16th-placed Saints.
Lively forward Tom Papley (managed) missed Sydney’s match with Carlton, but Longmire said he was a chance to return for the clash with St Kilda.
“Hopefully he’s okay but we won’t know until the last training session, so we won’t know until Thursday,” Longmire said on Monday.
“We’ll get more of an indication then. His plan is to not do a whole deal tomorrow.”
