Match details

Sunday May 22, 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 Hawthorn from Swans insiders on Facebook (facebook.com/sydneyswans) and Twitter (twitter.com/sydneyswans) - the Official hash tag for this game is #aflswanshawks.

Teams

Sydney Swans

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

In: Nick Malceski
Out: Nathan Gordon

Hawthorn

B: Brent Guerra, Thomas Murphy, Paul Puopolo
HB: Matt Suckling, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Shane Savage, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Brendan Whitecross, Luke Hodge, Liam Shiels
F: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli
Foll: Jarryd Roughead, Shaun Burgoyne, Brad Sewell
I/C: Max Bailey, Jordan Lewis, Ryan Schoenmakers, Luke Breust
Emg: Rick Ladson, Clinton Young, Jordan Lisle
 
In: Max Bailey, Cyril Rioli, Ryan Schoenmakers
Out: Stephen Gilham (Knee), David Hale (Knee), Isaac Smith (Soreness) 

Summary

The Sydney Swans host Hawthorn at the SCG on Sunday in what is a massive game for both Clubs.

The Swans notched their first win of the season at the SCG against Port Adelaide last Saturday night, and while the 62-point final margin was impressive, there is no doubt the side’s skill execution must increase if they are to get the four points against Hawthorn.
The Swans go into the game on the back of consecutive victories for the second time in 2011.

The Hawks are also in impressive form having won two games in a row after their bye in round six. After a sluggish start in both of those two games, against Port Adelaide and St Kilda respectively, Hawthorn finished strongly to record solid victories and stay above the Swans in fifth position on the ladder.

Players to watch

Sydney Swans: Rhyce Shaw
After a slightly shaky start to last week’s game against Port, Shaw burst to life in the second half. As Port tired, the running ability of Shaw out of defence, and his willingness to back himself in, broke the game apart and allowed him to gain plenty of meterage for the side. Shaw has averaged 20 possessions per game at the SCG so far in 2011, and averages 17 against Hawthorn across his career.

Click here to watch Swans defender Rhyce Shaw answer your questions from during the week.

Hawthorn: Brad Sewell
Sewell plays a brand of football that Swans fans can identify with - tough, uncompromising, and classy. Promoted off the rookie list in 2003, Sewell has become one of the Hawks’ premier ball winners, averaging 24 disposals across his seven games in 2011. The 2007 Hawks Best and Fairest was kept to just 17 possessions in both games against the Swans last year.   

Match-up to watch

Ted Richards/Heath Grundy v Lance Franklin
After having ten shots on goal - resulting in a return of 5.5 - against St Kilda last week, the Swans coaching staff have clearly identified Franklin as the biggest goal threat for the Hawks. Swans coach John Longmire said today the key to stopping Franklin was limiting his supply from further afield, and that he would probably try a rotation of defenders on him. Ted Richards and Heath Grundy have been in great form in 2011, guiding the defence to the equal-fourth fewest points conceded in the competition - equal with this week’s opponents Hawthorn. Franklin kicked 4.4 in his last outing at the SCG in round 19 last year.    

Coaching match-up

John Longmire v Alastair Clarkson
The former North Melbourne team mates will go up against each other for the first time as senior coaches. John Longmire got his maiden SCG win last weekend, and will be looking for three consecutive wins for the first time. With the return of Lewis Roberts-Thomson last week, and Nick Malceski this week, the depth of options for Longmire is starting to get stronger. Clarkson also gets a key player back on the park this weekend, with Cyril Rioli making his return from a hamstring injury. With two long-term injuries suffered in the Hawks game against St Kilda last week, Clarkson showed his coaching prowess by swinging Jarryd Roughead into the ruck with great effect.

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

Memorable match

Qualifying Final, 1996: Sydney 13.12 (90) d Hawthorn 12.12 (84), SCG

The Swans went into their first final since 1987 without star goalkicker Tony Lockett, but the ledger was soon squared when Hawthorn’s full forward Jason Dunstall was carried off on a stretcher. Both teams really struggled for goals early in the game, and just when Hawthorn looked like they would pinch the game before three-quarter time, Jason Mooney fired the Swans back into the game with two quick goals. In a classic final quarter, it wasn’t until Daryn Cresswell’s pack mark and subsequent goal in the dying seconds that the game was decided in the Swans favour. Craig O’Brien starred for the Swans with five goals, while Stuart Maxfield and Dale Lewis each finished with 16 kicks, five handballs and a goal, in the Swans first finals win since 1945.

What John Longmire says …

“We know that they’ve got top four talent in their team, they’ve got quality players everywhere, and I think they’ve got some younger kids coming through that played on the weekend and did a good job.’’

Media coverage

TV: Melbourne - Channel 7, 3pm. Perth - Channel 7, 11:30pm. Sydney/New South Wales - Channel 7, 3pm. Brisbane/Queensland - Channel 7, 11:59pm.
RADIO: Melbourne - 3AW, Triple M, Sydney - ABC630, Triple M.
Check out www.afl.com.au/broadcast for your local listings

2011 form

Sydney Swans: LBLWW (def Port Adelaide 18.13 (121) to 9.5 (59))
Hawthorn: WLBWW (def St Kilda 14.15 (99) to 10.9 (69))

2011 Ladder position

Sydney Swans: 6th   
Hawthorn: 5th       

Head-to-head

Played: 147
Sydney Swans: 65 wins
Hawthorn: 80 wins
Draws: 2

Last time they met

Round 19, 2010 - Sydney Swans 19.15 (129) def Hawthorn 13.7 (85), SCG

Current streak

Sydney Swans (1)

Injury list (as at 17/5/11)

Sydney Swans: Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite, Campbell Heath (knee) - test, Kieren Jack (ankle) - 3-4 weeks, Jed Lamb (hamstring) - 1 week, Nick Malceski (knee) test, Mike Pyke (quad) - 4 weeks, Gary Rohan (knee) - indefinite, Matt Spangher (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks

Hawthorn: Cameron Bruce (knee) - 3-5 weeks, Stephen Gilham (knee) - season, David Hale (knee) - 4-6 weeks, Angus Litherland (foot) - TBC, Sam Menegola (wrist) - 2 weeks, Jarryd Morton (foot) - 2 weeks, Brent Renouf (hamstring) test, Cyril Rioli (hamstring) - test, Ben Stratton (knee) - season