WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Friday June 22, 7.50pm
LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 15.9 (99) d Geelong 12.14 (86), round 23, 2011 at Simonds Stadium
TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all the Match Day Information
Both sides are coming off a bye and should be fit and fresh for a vital game. The Swans enter the second half of the year sitting in fourth place with a solid 8-3 record and an AFL-best percentage of 137.92. With co-captain Adam Goodes set to return, there are promising signs for John Longmire's squad. The Cats have battled for their best form all season, but still sit just one win behind the Swans and are coming off a decent victory over Carlton a fortnight ago. They will also be keen for a little redemption after the Swans' upset win in Geelong late last year. It's all set up for a red-hot showdown.
THE FOUR POINTS
SYDNEY SWANS
1. If Goodes plays, as expected, how will he perform after the first significant layoff of his brilliant career? Goodes' durability has been one of the hallmarks of his time at the Swans and, while he hadn't lost any of his pace prior to his injury, he is 32 years old and there will be enormous interest in his left quad.
2. The Swans produced one of their best displays in recent years to knock off the Cats in Geelong in round 23 last year, ending a 12-year winless drought at the ground. It also snapped Geelong's 29-game home winning run. It was a result that gave the Swans plenty of confidence, but it remains to be seen whether they can replicate it at the SCG.
3. Friday night football is virtually a foreign concept for the Swans, who played their first regular season Friday match since 2003 last year. It wasn't a happy night, with the Swans losing to Carlton at a rain swept SCG. They crave more Friday footy, a privilege the Cats rightfully enjoy regularly, and the Swans need to prove they are worthy.
4. The improvement of the Swans' midfield has been a critical element in their rise up the ladder in 2012. Lewis Jetta, Dan Hannebery and Craig Bird have all stepped up, while Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy and Jarrad McVeigh are performing at a high level. That needs to continue against the wily, crafty veterans in the Geelong engine room.
GEELONG
1. Although they lost to the Swans at Simonds Stadium in round 23 last season, the Cats have enjoyed a great recent record against the boys from the harbour city. Before that upset defeat, Geelong had beaten the Swans on nine consecutive occasions.
2. Having lost Daniel Menzel (knee) for the season and Travis Varcoe (foot) for the next couple of months, Geelong needs its other small forwards to find their best form. Steven Motlop is one such player who has already been impressive this season. He booted four goals when the Cats beat Carlton two weeks ago.
3. Speedy defender David Wojcinski finally played his 200th game when Geelong took on the Blues in round 11. A foot injury and a VFL suspension meant the 31-year-old had been stranded on 199 AFL appearances since the 2011 Grand Final. The man known as 'Wojo' picked up 11 possessions against Carlton, which was enough to draw praise from coach Chris Scott.
4. Given Geelong has very winnable games against Port Adelaide (Simonds Stadium) and Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium) coming up in rounds 14 and 15, a victory over the Swans would set them up for another tilt at a top-four berth. The Cats are 7-4 now, so if they can get over the Swans they will most likely be 10-4 after round 15.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
