Bouncing back from the loss to Gold Coast, a highly anticipated battle between a host of excitement machines and plenty more headline the latest edition of Hot Topics ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster.
Bouncing back
Sydney coach John Longmire and vice-captains Luke Parker and Dane Rampe have all spoken of the Swans’ full-blooded focus after Saturday’s loss to Gold Coast. Sydney had the momentum early in the game, but the Suns lifted after quarter-time to record a 24-point victory. Parker spoke on Wednesday of Sydney’s costly turnovers in the Gold Coast game, pointing out every club in the AFL is capable of pouncing on errors at crucial areas on the ground. Expect a Swans outfit with plenty to prove to front the Bombers.
Road to finals
The Swans and Bombers will both have plenty to play for as the fight for a finals position heats up. Sydney sits in fourth and Essendon 11th but a crammed ladder means just two wins separate the two clubs, while the 12th-placed Adelaide remains a chance to play finals football. Sydney, Port Adelaide (fifth), GWS (sixth), Melbourne (seventh) and Hawthorn (eighth) clung on to top-eight spots during a dramatic Round 18, but Geelong (ninth), North Melbourne (10th), Essendon (11th) and Adelaide are knocking on the door.
Excitement machines
A host of excitement machines will set Etihad Stadium alight as the likes of the Swans’ Zak Jones, Ben Ronke and Parker clash with the Bombers’ Orazio Fantasia, Adam Saad and Anthony Mcdonald-Tipungwuti. Jones takes the game on with his signature dash and palm off half-back, Ronke has this season burst on to the scene with his enormous ability as a goal-sneak and Parker’s attack on the football is relentless and his ability inside 50 massive. Parker was on fire from the get-go this season when he sprung to life with a spectacular bicycle-kick goal in a match with West Coast in Round 1. Essendon livewire McDonald-Tipungwuti has made a name for himself with his electric chase-down tackles, scorching pace and silky use of the Sherrin, while the pulsating run and carry of Saad and Fantasia brings the crowd to its feet.
Away/Etihad Stadium form
Sydney has played eight away games this season and lost just once, with Richmond collecting a 26-point win at Etihad Stadium in Round 15. Sydney has claimed a number of big scalps away from home and an epic come-from-behind victory over Geelong at the Cattery in Round 6 tops the lot. The Swans’ Etihad Stadium record makes for happy reading itself, with Sydney having won 16 of its past 19 matches at the Docklands venue. Sydney clinched a six-point win in a gripping encounter against North Melbourne when it last visited Etihad Stadium in Round 17.
Winning run
The history books are on the side of the Swans ahead of Friday’s battle, with Sydney having won the past eight times the clubs have met. The Swans haven’t lost to the Bombers since Round 20, 2011 and lay claim to an average winning margin of 34 points across the past eight match-ups. The Swans won by 65 points when the sides last butted heads, charging to a 19.7 (121) to 8.8 (56) victory at the SCG in a 2017 elimination final. But past results will count for little on Friday as two sides desperate to play a part in September go to war.
