The 100-game milestone of Sydney Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair features among the latest edition of Hot Topics ahead of Friday night’s clash with Hawthorn at the SCG.

An epic rivalry

Sydney’s Lance Franklin, Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Nick Smith and Sam Reid would have a clearer gauge than most on the ferocity of the Swans-Hawks rivalry. They were the only players on the MCG for the 2012 and 2014 Grand Finals wearing red and white today, and they’ve since hardly missed a moment in one of the most enthralling cross-club conflicts in the AFL. Not only did the Swans and Hawks split the two recent deciders one-apiece, an average of just 6.8 points have separated the clubs in their five most recent matches.

Four Swans eye returns

The Swans could be boosted by the returns of co-captain Kennedy (knee), speedster Zak Jones, seasoned campaigner Jack (hip) and rising forward Will Hayward (hip) for the Hawks clash. The returns of Kennedy and Jones would bolster a Sydney midfield brigade set to face a formidable on-ball contingent, with names like Jaegar O’Meara, Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels all expected to burst through the banner.

Sydney Swans co-captain Josh Kennedy is one of four Swans pushing for a return to action ahead of the Hawthorn clash.

Sinclair’s 100^th game

Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair will rubber-stamp a dogged rise from mature-age West Coast Eagles rookie to AFL mainstay as he runs out for his 100^th senior match. After being knocked back at a number of drafts, Sinclair was eventually placed on West Coast’s rookie list as a 23-year-old ahead of season 2013, while he also spent plenty of time in both the VFL and WAFL en route to landing an AFL contract. The 200-centimetre giant played 29 games for the Eagles over the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, before donning the red and white ahead of season 2016. He played primarily as a key forward over his first two seasons as a Swan, before Sam Naismith’s long-term knee injury handed him Sydney’s sole ruck duties on the eve of the 2018 campaign.

Buddy and Burgoyne

Two of the most decorated Indigenous footballers of the modern era will grace the SCG turf as Franklin and evergreen Hawk Shaun Burgoyne hit the Friday night lights. Franklin has played 298 games, won two premierships, is an eight-time All Australian, was named the 2018 All Australian captain, has claimed four Coleman Medals and sits in seventh on the all-time VFL/AFL goal-kicking leaderboard. Burgoyne has played 366 matches, won four premierships and is an All Australian representative. The footy world has marvelled at Franklin and Burgoyne for the best part of the last 15-20 years, and there’s every chance Friday night will again see them put supporters in awe. 

A packed SCG 

A colossal average of more than 39,000 supporters have flocked to the SCG for the three most recent Swans-Hawks games at the Harbour City venue. The 39,660-strong attendance at the Sydney-Hawthorn clash in Round 23, 2018 marked a regular-season-high crowd.