The Sydney Swans face the Melbourne Demons at the MCG on Saturday May 8 in Round 8 of the competition.

The Swans welcome back Lance Franklin and Dane Rampe for the clash, with the two stars returning from injury.

It will be Franklin's first game at the MCG in 1000 days, his last appearance was Round 21, 2018, when coincidentally the Swans also faced the Demons.

A key to the Swans backline, Rampe has missed the last three games due to a finger injury sustained in early April.

Defender Robbie Fox also has been named in the side for the first time in 2021 following an impressive return in the VFL last week, returning from a finger injury sustained in February

Isaac Heeney (ankle) and Lewis Melican (hamstring) will both miss the match due to injuries sustained against the Cats last week.

The undefeated Melbourne side have named two changes to their line up, adding James Harmes and Harry Petty who come in for Adam Tomlinson (injury) and Oskar Baker (omitted).

Callum Mills will play his 100^th AFL game.

WHERE TO WATCH

First bounce is 7.25pm and the game will be live on Fox Footy, Channel 7 and Kayo Sports.

Follow all the action via our Match Centre.

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.

Heading to the game? View our Match Day Hub.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Sydney holds the recent head to head advantage over Melbourne, claiming a 21-point victory in the last time these two sides met. The clash occurred in Round 15 of the 2020 season with Justin McInerney and Luke Parker kicking two goals each in the victory.

The Swans also hold a 4-1 record over the last five encounters, and nine of the last 10, with Melbourne’s victory coming in Round 4 of the 2019 season.

Melbourne enter this clash following a 30 point victory over North Melbourne, and remain at the top of the table after 7 victories to kick off their season.

The Swans bounced back last week with a thrilling 2 point victory over Geelong at the SCG and sit 5^th on the ladder with 5 wins.

KEY QUOTES

John Longmire

"Lance has been running and doing all the training he has been required to do”

"Dane is obviously a very important player for us and it's great to get him back in the team as well."

"Fox is naturally fit, he is our fittest player as far as his ability to run and he's been able to run with the injury he has had to his hand," Longmire said.

"He played really well last week and trained well so it's great to have him back too."

Callum Mills

“They’ve been great, they’re on top of a lot of key stats and so they should be, they’re number one on the ladder.”

"We’re really looking forward to it, they’ve got a lot of dangerous players that we’re keen to nullify and hopefully put our imprint on the game."

“I think we obviously want to iron out the inconsistencies, I think every team goes through it.”

"You look at the last 10 years and it happens to every good side. The main thing we’re really trying to drive is consistency, so whether it is through a lack of experience or you just have your down days, we’re just trying to iron that out and get the best out of ourselves. “

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A Sydney Swans fightback falls just short against the top of the table Melbourne Demons at the MCG tonight, with the undefeated side claiming their eighth-straight win of the season after seeing off a brave Swans outfit to claim a nine-point victory.

Goals were spread evenly between the Swans, with Hayward (2), Tom Hickey, Jake Lloyd, Justin McInerney, Callum Sinclair and Top Papley all scoring in the see-sawing 10.7 (67) to 8.10 (58) clash.

Sydney jumped out to an early 12-point lead before Melbourne wrested a strong control, and the match meandered on – in a surprisingly flat manner for two free-flowing sides – through the first half in the Melbourne autumn drizzle.

But the Dees struggled to capitalise on their dominance, kicking 2.5 for the second term, the most comical miss of which saw Bayley Fritsch slipping over the goal line while attempting to pick up the ball.

The Swans never dropped their heads, kicking two goals to go into the final break just 10 points arrears, before Callum Sinclair showed some quick reflexes 20 seconds into the fourth to bring the margin to four.

The teams traded goals before Melbourne's Tom McDonald's fourth – after a soaring contested mark above a pack, including teammate Ben Brown – proved to be the match-sealer with around seven minutes remaining.

Led by Callum Mills, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker, Sydney dominated the centre clearances 17-4, but Demons wrecking ball Clayton Oliver (35, 10 clearances, 500m gained) thrived in the damp conditions.

Dane Rampe made a welcome return to Sydney's defence from a broken finger, but champion Lance Franklin was blanketed by Steven May after two weeks off with bone bruising in his knee.

Battle of the big men
There's been a certain magic around Tom Hickey this year, and the Swans' journeyman took on one of the very best in the last few years in Max Gawn. It was an intriguing battle between the two big men, with the Demon comfortably taking the chocolates in the hitouts, but Hickey recording six clearances off his own boot. Their two stat lines were eerily similar, recording 16 touches and 186m gained apiece.

MELBOURNE     3.1     5.6     8.6     12.14     (86)  
SYDNEY            3.3     3.7     6.8      9.10      (64)  
 
GOALS  
Melbourne: McDonald 4, Brown 3, Melksham, Petracca, Spargo
Sydney: Hayward 2, McInerney, Hickey, Lloyd, Papley, Sinclair, Mills
 
BEST  
Melbourne: Oliver, McDonald, Petracca, Harmes, Salem, Jordon
Sydney: Parker, Rampe, Mills, Lloyd, Rowbottom, Hickey   

INJURIES  
Melbourne: Nil
Sydney: Nil  

SUBSTITUTES  
Melbourne: Chandler (unused)  
Sydney: Blakey (unused)  

Crowd: 35,567 at the MCG