Another danger game?

If the Swans thought GWS posed a threat, St Kilda is a side that could thwart top four ambitions with Alan Richardson challenging his side to throw the kitchen sink at the final rounds of the home and away season.

It was a spirited Saints that interrupted Geelong’s finals plans somewhat in a thrilling draw last Saturday night which would have raised the anticipation levels of Swans coach John Longmire and company.

Longmire was impressed with the pressure and intensity the young Saints outfit was able to produce and believes the Swans will need to be at full throttle to account for one of the most improved sides in the competition.

Otherwise a loss might mean the double chance could slip away with Richmond and the Western Bulldogs threatening.

Statistically sound.

After a few lean weeks, the Swans hit back in the stats that matter against GWS on Saturday afternoon.

Contributing to the 89-point win at Spotless Stadium, the Swans smashed the Giants in contested possessions (160-137) and clearances (47-34) while a marker that will be particularly important against the Saints – tackling – was on point (66-56).

The Saints rank 4^th in the competition for tackles and have been playing a high-pressure brand of football which the Swans, while capable of countering (ranked 1^st for tackles), will need to be wary of.

Dan Hannebery (eight tackles), Lewis Jetta (seven) and Harry Cunningham (six tackles) were among those who put in the hard yards against the Giants.

Buddy, Mitchell, Rohan and McGlynn.

The prospect of all four returning for Sunday’s clash would warm the hearts of Swans supporters which makes Friday’s final cut all the more interesting.

Lance Franklin trained fully on Monday for the first time since straining a back muscle about four weeks ago and, pending Friday’s final session, is expected to play.

NEWS: Franklin overcomes first hurdle

As is Tom Mitchell who has made a swift recovery from an eye injury which forced him to miss last weekend’s win against GWS.

And Rohan (knee) and McGlynn (hamstring), depending on how the pair pull up from training, may need a week in the NEAFL otherwise the Swans’ forward line will be given an added and much needed boost.

Teddy’s 250^th

On Sunday one of the Swans’ all-time favourites lines up for game 250 – Ted Richards.

When Richards was still at Essendon, a milestone let alone 250 matches would have seemed like a pipe dream having managed just 33 games over four seasons at Windy Hill.

But a career-saving move to Sydney ultimately paid dividends with Richards going on to cement a spot as one of the most trusty defenders in the competition and an impressive list of individual honours including Best Clubman, All-Australian and a premiership medallion.

Don’t expect any fireworks or flashiness in Sunday’s clash, just another solid, Ted-like performance as seen in most of his 216 outings in the red and white.

Saying goodbye to ’Schneids’

Although Adam Schneider has been off the red and white radar for some time now and while the Swans will be looking to rain on the retiree’s parade on Sunday, we all get the chance to farewell a 2005 premiership hero.

Schneider played 98 games with the Swans before finding a new home, alongside Sean Dempster, at the Saints at the end of 2008. A collection of those made up the epic ’05 finals series in which the Swans fought a way through to win the ultimate.

NEWS: Swans congratulate Schneider

And Schneider played a pivotal part in all of them, in particularly the Preliminary Final against (ironically) St Kilda where the small forward kicked three goals plus the sealer in a match-winning display that slingshot the Swans into the Grand Final.

For that the red and white family will forever be grateful.