Match details

Sunday June 12, SCG, 2.10pm (local time)
For full match day information - including tickets - please click here.

You can get live updates on Sunday’s game against Richmond from Swans insiders on Facebook (facebook.com/sydneyswans) and Twitter (twitter.com/sydneyswans) - the Official hash tag for this game is #aflswanstigers.

Teams

Sydney Swans

B: Ted Richards, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Alex Johnson
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Rhyce Shaw, Jude Bolton, Nicholas Smith
HF: Ben McGlynn, Sam Reid, Josh P. Kennedy
F: Jarrad McVeigh, Adam Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe
Foll: Mark Seaby, Craig Bird, Daniel Hannebery
I/C: Kieren Jack, Nick Malceski, Lewis Jetta, Trent Dennis-Lane
Emg: Jarred Moore, Lewis Johnston, Andrejs Everitt

In: Kieren Jack
Out: Andrejs Everitt

Richmond

B: Chris Newman, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli
HB: Brett Deledio, Luke McGuane, Shaun Grigg
C: Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Reece Conca
HF: Jake King, Tyrone Vickery, Matthew White
F: Mitchell Farmer, Jack Riewoldt, Robin Nahas
Foll: Andrew Browne, Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley
I/C: Shane Edwards, Tom Hislop, David Astbury, Brad Miller
Emg: Shane Tuck, Jeromey Webberley, Jake Batchelor

In: Shane Edwards, Tom Hislop, David Astbury
Out: Shane Tuck, Jake Batchelor, Bradley Helbig

Summary

After back-to-back road wins, the Swans return to the SCG on a Sunday for the first time since Hawthorn ran over the top of them in round 9.

Since that game, the Swans have had a come-from-behind, one-point win over North Melbourne, and a dominant display from the opening bounce against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. The Swans currently sit fifth on the ladder, one win and percentage behind the fourth-placed Carlton, and are looking to amend their current 1-3 record at the SCG.

Richmond come into the game off the bye, having had two weeks to stew over their disappointing round 10 loss to Port Adelaide in Darwin. The Tigers are currently looking for their first finals appearance since 2001, sitting tenth on the ladder, just two points behind eighth-placed Fremantle.

Players to watch

Sydney Swans: Jude Bolton
Much has been made of the young Richmond midfield in the lead-up to this game, but it’s pretty hard to look past the 2011 form of the Swans veteran midfielder. Fresh from a season-high 35 possessions against the Brisbane Lions, Bolton will take on a team he has averaged 20 possessions and five tackles against over his 17 career meetings - including 32 and 33-disposal games last year. 

Richmond: Trent Cotchin
After a severely hampered start to his AFL career due to injuries, 2011 has seen Trent Cotchin deliver on the promise that saw him selected with the number two pick in the 2007 Draft. In Richmond’s four wins so far this season, Cotchin has averaged 25 disposals and just under two goals - however his highest possession tally of 30 came in the Tigers round four loss to Collingwood.     

Match-up to watch

Ted Richards/Heath Grundy v Jack Riewoldt
After the rotating combination of Ted Richards and Heath Grundy kept Jonathan Brown to nine possessions and a goal last weekend, the task doesn’t get any easier for the pair this weekend. They are set to face the reigning Coleman medalist and current leader in the goalkicking, Jack Riewoldt. The team saw first-hand in the loss to Hawthorn what damage a dangerous full-forward can do on the SCG, with ‘Buddy’ Franklin finishing with 6.6. The difference between Franklin’s output and Brown’s was the team’s control of the midfield - if the Swans can hold the Richmond midfield and limit Riewoldt’s supply, the game can be played on their terms.  

Coaching match-up

John Longmire v Damien Hardwick
The last two weeks have been a contrast for the Swans. They had to graft a comeback to sneak over the line against North Melbourne in round 10, while last weekend they burst out of the blocks and took the game past the Brisbane Lions by half-time. It should give coach John Longmire confidence that they can play lockdown defence and free-flowing attack. Hardwick is in his second year of coaching at the Tigers, and after losing his first nine games in charge last year, has developed a young and exciting team capable of challenging anyone on their day. All indicators point to a great battle between the Swans contested style of play and the Tigers uncontested ball use.

Click here to watch Swans coach John Longmire talk about this week’s ins and outs

Memorable Match

Round 4, 1996: Richmond 9.16 (70) def by Sydney 10.11 (71), Waverley Park

The Swans went into the game with just one win from their opening three rounds, while the Tigers - on the back of their most successful year since 1982 - went in with two wins from their three games. In a low scoring affair, the Tigers had built what looked like an unassailable 21-point lead at the final break, especially considering the Swans had only scored five goals in the opening three terms. Remarkably the Swans were able to overhaul the Tigers in the last quarter and record a dramatic one-point win. Tony Lockett led the way with six of the side’s ten goals, while Andrew Dunkley was awarded the three umpire votes for his job on Tigers’ champion Matthew Richardson - limiting him to three goals in a season where he kicked 91. In the first game against his old Club, Stuart Maxfield dominated for the Swans, gathering 24 possessions and kicking a vital goal. After that win, the Swans only lost three games in the regular season, before losing the Grand Final to North Melbourne. 

What John Longmire says …

“They have a very talented midfield, they win the contested ball but run well and get it to (Jack) Riewoldt, but they don’t just have him, they have three or four really good goal kicking options. They are the most efficient team in the competition in regards to kicking.’’

Media coverage

TV: Melbourne - Channel 7 3pm. Sydney/New South Wales - Channel 7 2pm.
RADIO: Melbourne - 3AW, Triple M, Sydney - Triple M, ABC630.
Check out www.afl.com.au/broadcast for your local listings

Recent form

Sydney Swans: WWLWW (def Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116) to 7.9 (51))
Richmond: BLWLW (Bye)

2011 Ladder position

Sydney Swans: 5th   
Richmond: 10th       

Head-to-head

Played: 185
Sydney Swans: 82 wins
Richmond: 102 wins
Draw: 1

Last time they met

Round 14, 2010: Richmond 14.5 (89) def Sydney Swans 12.13 (85), MCG

Current streak

Richmond (1)

Injury list (as at 7/6/11):

Sydney Swans: Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite, Gary Rohan (knee) - 2-3 weeks, Jed Lamb (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks, Shane Mumford (knee) - test, Mike Pyke (quad) - 1 week, Kieren Jack (ankle) - test

Richmond: Daniel Connors (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks, Matt Dea (leg) - 2 weeks, Shane Edwards (cheek) - available, Dylan Grimes (hamstring) - TBA, Kelvin Moore (hip) - TBA, Will Thursfield (leg) - 2 weeks