Round Six: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, April 23, 2021. 1:45pm.
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast.

The Sydney Swans will be looking to return to the winners circle when they face the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, April 23.

After a nailbiting 2-point defeat to the GWS Giants in last week’s Sydney Derby XX, the Swans will head north to face a side eager to get their season going infront of their home fans.

Sydney will be without star forward Lance Franklin and ruckman Tom Hickey who have been ruled out with injury this week, but the squad remains confident in whoever is called into the line up as they look to claim their fifth win of the season.

The Gold Coast Suns are coming off a 62-point defeat to the undefeated Western Bulldogs last week, seeing them drop to 15^th on the ladder.

Their lone win of the season came in Round 2, when they had a dominant 59-point victory over North Melbourne four weeks ago.

Josh Corbett is in strong form, averaging three goals a game while fellow forward Ben King is averaging two a game.

Suns defender Charlie Ballard looms as a potential return, after missing last week with an ankle injury, while Sean Lemmens appears to set for selection after progressing through concussion prototols.

Rookie Luke Towey has been ruled out with injury, joining captain Jarrod Witts, Zac Smith, Matt Conroy and Sam Day on the injury list.

Where to watch

The game will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports from 1:30pm as well as on 7mate in NSW and the ACT. Radio broadcasts via Triple M, ABC and AFL Nation.

We have teamed up with pubs around Sydney to give our Sydney Swans members and fans a home away from home, whether the team is on the road or playing at the SCG. Check out our premium venues, including their food and beverage offers available to our Swans family at our Swans Friendly Venues.

Recent Encounters

In their last encounter, the Gold Coast Suns came away 32-point victors over the Swans in Round 7 of the 2020 season. In that clash, Will Hayward, Tom McCartin and Tom Papley all kicked two goals each.

Stats

The Swans hold a 10-2 head to head record over the Suns, however recent encounters are split between both sides. The Swans had a 42-point victory in 2019, a 67-point victory in 2017 and a 38-point victory in 2016 however suffered a 14-point defeat in 2018.

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The Sydney Swans suffered a 40-point defeat to the Gold Coast Suns in their round 6 clash at Metricon Stadium today, with the Suns using aggression, relentless pressure and slick ball movement in its 15.10 (100) to 9.6 (60) victory.

Gold Coast's second win of the season came on the back of high-level contributions from a crop of high-end draft picks.

Ben King kicked five goals, showing his marking prowess and ability to lead both at the ball and back into space. Noah Anderson (34 disposals and six clearances) showed clean hands, while Ben Ainsworth (20 and three goals) and Izak Rankine (18 and two goals) were a constant menace forward of centre.

Sydney had more than its fair share of opportunities, narrowly winning the inside 50 count 53-52, but unlike its dynamic opening month of football, struggled to move the ball.

Josh Kennedy (41) and Luke Parker (36) were terrific in the trenches, while Chad Warner could hold his head high after being moved to Touk Miller following the Sun's blistering 16-disposal first quarter.

The Swans lost defender George Hewett to concussion in the first term, while Nick Blakey was forced to hobble around close to goal for the final three quarters after copping a badly corked thigh.

Gold Coast led by 22 at half time before going on to claim a 40-point victory.

Sydney shot itself in the foot

In perfect dry and windless conditions there was no excuse for poor ball use, but the Swans effectively kicked themselves out of the game with execution that would have infuriated John Longmire. If the ball wasn't being hung up with soft kicks into the corridor, that led directly to two Gold Coast turnovers and goals in the second term, it was being butchered when going inside 50, often kicking to outnumbered situations. Sydney marked the ball just eight times from its 53 inside 50 entries.

GOLD COAST             4.2       8.2       13.6     15.10 (100)
SYDNEY         3.1       4.4       5.5       9.6 (60)

GOALS
Gold Coast: King 5, Ainsworth 3, Corbett 2, Rankine 2, Greenwood, Holman, Weller
Sydney: McLean 2, Florent, Hayward, Heeney, Papley, Rowbottom, Warner, Wicks

BEST
Gold Coast: Anderson, Miller, King, Lemmens, Ainsworth, Holman, Rankine
Sydney: Kennedy, Parker, Mills, Lloyd, Warner 

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Sydney: Hewett (concussion), Blakey (thigh)

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Sexton (unused)
Sydney: Campbell (replaced Hewett) 

Crowd: 9819 at Metricon Stadium