The Sydney Swans’ clash with Carlton at the SCG on Friday night is bursting with Hot Topics.
One of the most significant days on the Club’s calendar, a veteran’s milestone match, Lance Franklin’s glowing Carlton record and plenty more surround the Round 11 encounter.
Marn Grook at the SCG
Marn Grook at the SCG makes for one of the most important days on the Swans calendar. The AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round opener celebrates Australian rules football’s Indigenous roots and the impact many Indigenous players have had on the game. Seventeen have pulled on the red and white and 882-goal champion Franklin is still running around. Sydney first played for the Marn Grook Trophy against Essendon in 2002 and has won the Trophy 11 times since. ‘Marn Grook’ translates to ‘Game Ball’ and was the name given to a traditional game played during a corroboree of the Djawurrung and Jardwadjali clans in Victoria’s Western District. The game was played with a ball made from possum skin, about the size of an orange, filled with pounded charcoal and/or grass. It was bound into a hard ball with kangaroo sinews and kicked and tossed by two opposing teams of up to 50 players each. It is believed the founder of Australian rules football, Tom Wills, observed a game of Marn Grook in the 1840s and thought it would be a good way for Australian cricketers to keep fit during winter. The Swans will face the Blues with a new Indigenous guernsey featuring a Black Swan on the front, designed by South Coast artist Cheryl Davison.
Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal
The player judged best afield will receive the Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal. It launched in 2016 in honour of Swans greats Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, two of the greatest Indigenous players to have graced the football field. Goodes played 372 games between 1999 and 2015, while O’Loughlin piled up 303 games between 1995 and 2009 and kicked 521 goals. Former Swan Tom Mitchell claimed the inaugural Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal in a return of 41 touches and a goal, while Franklin took the honours in 2017 after booting five goals.
Hannebery’s 200th
Star Sydney midfielder Dan Hannebery will become the youngest Swan in history to reach 200 AFL games on Friday. He will be 27 years and 97 days old, making him the 27th youngest in history and taking him past Swans great Tony Morwood to become the youngest Swan. In a quirk for those who fancy their trivia, Hannebery debuted against Carlton and played his 50th game against Brisbane, his 100th against Carlton, his 150th against Brisbane and will again raise the bat against Carlton for his 200th. The 27-year-old has achieved a remarkable amount for a player of his age.
Hewett v Cripps
Sydney midfielder George Hewett has the ability to win a glut of possession or completely shut an opposition ball magnet out of the game. He has played a key role in negating the influence of Mitchell and Fremantle star Nat Fyfe this season, while a glance at the stats sheet suggests gun Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps could also have Hewett’s attention on Friday. The 23-year-old is leading the competition in most contested possessions per game (19.5) after the opening 10 rounds. He was at his best against Richmond in Round 1 in a return of 36 disposals (25 contested) and last week gathered 31 touches (22 contested) against the Geelong Cats. Keep an eye on how Sydney coach John Longmire uses one of his most versatile weapons.
Franklin’s Carlton record
Franklin has compiled a record against the Blues rivalled by few. He booted 10 goals when Sydney last met Carlton in Round 23, 2017 and has kicked 26 majors across the last five games he’s faced the Blues. Among those games are a seven-goal haul, two bags of four, a one-goal return and the bag of 10. The four-time Coleman Medallist has kicked his most career goals against Essendon (68) and Carlton runs second (63). Franklin kicked his 300th Swans goal when Sydney last played at home – making him and Tony Lockett the only two players to have kicked 300 majors for two clubs – and the West Australian could be set for another starring show.
