After a 87-point win over the Gold Coast Suns in the final home and away season fixture, we the Sydney Swans have cemented a place in the 2021 AFL finals against cross-town rivals, the GWS Giants in a Sydney Derby Elimination Final.
Elimination Final
Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants
Saturday August 28, 3.20pm
UTAS Stadium, Launceston
The clash with the Giants will be the third of the season, with the 1-1 this season after splitting victories in the Round 5 and Round 18 fixtures.
As we prepare for Saturday’s clash, we take a look back at the historic Round 18 game.
Sydney Derby XXI will go down in the records as one of Sydney’s greatest comeback victories.
Faced with the adversity of having last minute team changes in the warm up and in a fixture where eight players were unavailable to coronavirus protocols, Sydney found a way to secure a stunning come-from-behind 26-point win.
Add the early distruptions to the change of venue, with the 21st Sydney derby originally scheduled for Giants Stadium, moving to Ballarat before being shifted to the Sunshine State.
The fightback was spurred on by forward Lance Franklin, who finished with four goals, including his 400th for the Swans, as the Swans put together a run of nine goals, including six unanswered in the third term.
But things did not look positive for the Swans early. The Giants came flying out of the blocks, kicking six first-quarter goals to open up a 37-8 lead at the end of the opening term before stretching the lead to 50-16 midway through the second quarter.
The Swans scored three straight to reduce the margin to 56-40 at the main break before eventually finishing with 15.8 (98) to 11.6 (72) victory.
At the time, the Giants were fighting for their spot in the eight while Sydney sat in sixth and were searching for their third consecutive victory.
Tom Papley also finished with four majors for the Swans, while teammate Luke Parker was atop the match possession count with 31.
Remarkably, Sydney kicked 12 of the last 14 goals.
Luke Parker (9 votes) was judged best on ground and claimed his third Brett Kirk medal. Josh Kennedy, Tom Papley, Tom Hickey and George Hewett picked up two votes and Lance Franklin 1 vote.
Saturday night will add another great chapter to the Sydney Swans – GWS Giants rivalry.
As we prepare for this huge fixture it’s time to show that anywhere, anytime we are – Together Red & White.
Take part in our Finals Frenzy below and be get involved from wherever you are in Australia (or around the world).
