The potential showdown between two midfield bulls is among a host of Hot Topics ahead of the Sydney Swans’ clash with GWS at the SCG on Saturday night.
The cross-city rivals will butt heads for Sydney Derby XVII in a highly anticipated Round 6 duel.
A heated rivalry
The fight for Sydney supremacy will write another chapter as the Swans and Giants collide. Saturday night’s clash will mark the seventh SCG game in Sydney Derby history and 17th overall, with the Swans having claimed 11 wins and the Giants five. Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe has added heat to the flames ahead of the ensuing encounter, declaring “there’s no love lost”.
Brett Kirk Medal
The player judged best afield will be presented the Brett Kirk Medal after the match, an honour named in tribute to former Swans co-captain Brett Kirk and presented after every regular-season Sydney Derby. The 241-game Swan, now a midfield coach at Sydney, donned the red and white in the years spanning 1999-2010. He collected an All Australian blazer in 2004, before taking out the Bob Skilton Medal in 2005 and 2007. Sydney veteran Kieren Jack has been awarded three Brett Kirk Medals to be leading the way, while Callum Mills (Round 3) and Lance Franklin (Round 22) were last year’s winners.
Coniglio v Hewett
Star GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio was among the long list of dangerous on-ballers blanketed by Sydney’s George Hewett in season 2018. Coniglio was rampant on his way to 17 first-half disposals as the Swans met the Giants in Round 22, but Hewett was then assigned to nullifying his influence and kept him to just four touches in the second half. Although Sydney coach John Longmire is a steadfast believer in two-way running – and it’s not only in defence but attack that Hewett can make the opposition pay.
Anzac Round
Longmire summed up to a tee on Wednesday what the Anzac spirit means to his charges, saying “we understand what our soldiers have done for our country” and “we’re very conscious of paying our respects”. The Swans and Giants will pay their respects in a minute’s silence ahead of Saturday’s game. Anzac Round is one of the most important rounds on the AFL’s calendar, so those in attendance are sure to enjoy an experience to savour.
