WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Saturday September 1, 1.45pm
LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 12.8 (80) d Geelong 11.8 (74), round 13, 2012 at the SCG
TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Saturday's Match Day Information

There are many crucial games in the final round of the home and away season, but this is as important as any of them. The Swans need to win to finish in the top two, while the Cats need a victory to increase their chances of avoiding an interstate knock-out final.

THE FOUR POINTS

SYDNEY SWANS

1. Although the margin was only 13 points, the Swans actually dominated the Cats when they clashed at Simonds Stadium in round 23 last season. Adam Goodes led the way, and he was later awarded three Brownlow Medal votes for his 30 possessions, four tackles and a goal.

2. Ruckman Shane Mumford also had a day out against his old side when the Swans upset Geelong on the eve of the 2011 finals. Mumford gathered 22 possessions, won 39 hit-outs and kicked a goal.

3. The Swans stunned the Cats with a brilliant opening quarter onslaught when the teams met at the SCG two months ago. At the first change, the score was 7.0 (42) to 1.1 (7). But the Swans learned all about Geelong's fighting qualities during the remainder of the game. The Cats actually hit the front during the final term, before Andrejs Everitt won the game for the Swans with a brilliant goal from 50m out on the boundary.

4. Jude Bolton produced an outstanding display in that win over the Cats earlier this year. The tireless warrior collected 23 possessions, laid seven tackles and booted a goal. Geelong will certainly pay him close attention this time around if he can make it back from a round 19 knee injury.

GEELONG

1. The Cats' recent record at their home ground is outstanding. In fact, they've won 34 of their past 35 games at Simonds Stadium. But that one loss was to none other than the Sydney Swans, who triumphed at the Cattery by 13 points in round 23 last season.

2. This is likely to be Matthew Scarlett's final appearance at Simonds Stadium, as the champion full-back is set to retire when Geelong's 2012 campaign comes to an end. Scarlett has so far played 92 games at the Cats' home ground, winning 69, drawing two and losing 21. As can be seen from point No. 1, most of those 21 losses came during his early years at the club.

3. Saturday's game will be Mitch Duncan's 50th appearance in the AFL. Duncan made his debut against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round one of the 2010 season. He played eight games that year, then enjoyed a brilliant season in 2011, playing 21 matches, including the Cats' Grand Final win over Collingwood. In 2012 Duncan has emerged as a genuine gun in one of the competition's finest midfields.

4. Tom Hawkins will also celebrate a milestone when the Cats meet the Swans. The clash will be his 100th AFL game. Hawkins has packed a lot into his career to date. He's won two premierships and kicked 165 goals. And after booting 58 majors this season, he is just two behind Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich in the race for the Coleman Medal.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL