The Sydney Swans will be in the running to claim the minor premiership in a clash with the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sports Park on Friday afternoon.
Second-placed Sydney, the first-placed Southport Sharks, third-placed Aspley Hornets and fourth-placed Sydney University are all locked on 44 competition points ahead of Round 21.
But development coach Jeremy Laidler says the Swans will simply focus their attention on building strong form in the last round of the regular season.
“It’s a great opportunity for our listed players, as well as the Academy players, to really step up and get some momentum heading into the finals,” Laidler told SwansTV.
“We’re not really focussed on where we finish on the ladder. It’s about week by week – it’s the old cliché. We’re just worrying about our boys staying in good form and playing our best footy against Gold Coast.
“We can’t take them lightly and they have started well in previous times we’ve played them. We’re going to have to be ready to go from the first bounce.
“Hopefully we can get some good footy going and take that into weeks to come.”
A number of AFL-listed Swans, including Gary Rohan, Dean Towers, Darcy Cameron and Colin O’Riordan, will mix with a total of 16 QBE Sydney Swans Academy players in the clash.
Laidler said the AFL-listed talent and Academy top-ups had teamed up well all season.
“Our listed players have been superb all year,” Laidler said.
“They’re really driving the ship and the Academy boys are jumping on board. By the standards our listed players are setting it’s easy for our Academy players to follow along.
“Bailey Stewart, Mitch Rogers and Sam Wicks have been playing mostly for us all year round, and Connor Flanagan is another one who’s played some really consistent footy. It’s pleasing for them and they get the exposure they need and they’re really helping our team get wins on the board.”
The Swans will be on the hunt for three wins in a row after knocking off the Canberra Demons in the nation’s capital and GWS at Spotless Stadium.
The eighth-placed Suns won’t play a part in finals football in 2018 and last week fell to a 91-point loss to the Brisbane Lions.
But Laidler said Gold Coast would present an ominous test.
“We’re definitely expecting a really fierce battle,” Laidler said.
“We can’t take them lightly. We know what they’re going to bring and we’ve done our research on them. We’ll prepare as much as we can and it should be a cracking game.”
Who: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Where: Blacktown International Sports Park
When: 2pm Saturday
Round: 21
Sydney Swans team:
B: 51. Connor Flanagan 57. Michael Carroll 53. Kyle McKellar
HB: 52. Josh Stern 47. Josh Rayner 1. James Rose
C: 22. Dean Towers 45. Angus Styles 6. Kyle Dunkley
HF: 41. Jake Brown 34. Jordan Dawson 16. Gary Rohan
F: 55. Bailey Stewart 58. Mitchell Rogers 42. Robbie Fox
Foll: 17. Darcy Cameron 32. James Bell 38. Colin O’Riordan
Inter: 54. Kyle Veerhuis 60. Zach Cameron 49. Cooper Kilpatrick 56. Joey Reinhard 50. Sam Wicks
Emer: 48. Harry Maguire 59. Luke Parks 19. Jeremy Shumack 21. Sam Thorne 35. Dylan Smith
In: 42. Robbie Fox 34. Jordan Dawson 6. Kyle Dunkley 47. Josh Rayner
Out: 38. Heath Grundy (AFL) 33. Ryley Stoddart (injured) 48. Sam Thorne (omitted) 60. Luke Parks (omitted)
New: 6. Kyle Dunkley
