It’s the final game of the 2024 season and the Sydney Swans will face the Brisbane Lions at the MCG in the 2024 AFL Toyota Grand Final.
The two non-Melbourne teams enter with plenty of confidence and form on both sides, with Sydney winning five of their last appearances while the Lions enter the game with four wins from their past five games.
Swans senior coach John Longmire has named an unchanged line up for the Grand Final, with captain Callum Mills confirmed earlier in the week that he will miss the clash.
Speaking to Sydney Swans media, Longmire says that it was a tough decision to rule Mills out.
“Really difficult for Millsy, no question about that,” Longmire said.
“He did everything he needed to do at training, trained absolutely flat out, but then when we sat down without the emotion of it and looked at it and thought the challenges of getting through four quarters was always going to be there and had to make the tough call.
“It was a tough one for him, but hopefully best for the team.
Longmire says the message to the players has been about respecting the opposition but to continue to play to our own side’s strengths.
“The message has been to just to make sure that we continue to do what we know works and part of that's respecting the opposition,” Longmire said.
“They're a very good team, they're very good at the clearance, they get the ball in their front half.
“It's always that balance about making sure that we also play to our strengths and getting that balance right on grand final day is always important.”
Longmire says the side is looking forward to the challenge and capping off the season in their 150th year by playing in front of another strong and vocal red and white crowd.
“It's fantastic to come along again and be a part of it and we are really looking forward to seeing all of our red and white supporters and members there, as many as we possibly get,” Longmire said.
“It’s great to be back in Melbourne and in front of our South Melbourne crew, hopefully plenty of people do travel down from Sydney, but it’s a terrific day and we've just got to give our best shot and see what goes from there.”
Dane Rampe will captain the side in Mills’ absence.
Luke Parker will play his fifth AFL premiership decider on Saturday to join three Swans ‘mega greats’ at the top of the club’s grand final list. Read more.
Bring the thunder, bring the passion, bring the energy. Bring it home.
