Sydney Swans coach John Longmire is hoping for a packed SCG as his troops prepare for a high-stakes clash with Hawthorn on Saturday night.
The fifth-placed Swans and fourth-placed Hawks are locked on 56 competition points ahead of the last round of the regular season, meaning Saturday’s winner will sew up a top-four berth.
With that comes a prized double chance and, if victorious in the opening round of the finals, a week off.
Longmire has called on the red-and-white faithful to fill the stands.
“We hope there’s as much support for us as we can get here at the SCG on Saturday night,” Longmire said.
“We’re really keen for a huge crowd here to help the boys get over the line.”
The Swans have been on the outer of the top four since losing to Geelong in Round 16.
They slid to as low as ninth on the ladder after falling to back-to-back losses to Gold Coast and Essendon but have since responded in convincing fashion.
A thrilling two-point win over Collingwood kick-started the resurgence, before hard-fought victories over Melbourne and GWS followed.
The Swans collected a 20-point win over the Giants last Saturday to lock in their ninth finals appearance in a row.
As the Swans now zoom in their attention on toppling the Hawks, Longmire says grabbing a top-four spot is a clear incentive.
“At the end of every season when you’re looking to set yourself for the next year, from the moment you start the pre-season, you’re trying to finish as high up on the ladder as you possibly can,” Longmire said.
“There’s no question that a top-four spot is an enormous carrot for all of those teams that are now locked in for the finals.
“If you’ve got a chance to control your own destiny, as we do and as Hawthorn do, it adds to the mix for a wonderful game here on Saturday night. We’re really looking forward to that opportunity. We know what’s at stake and so do Hawthorn – two teams in pretty good form. It makes for a great contest.”
Sydney and Hawthorn have crossed swords in two recent grand finals, with the Swans clinching a 10-point win in 2012 before the Hawks struck back in 2014.
The past four Swans-Hawks battles have been decided by an average of just six points.
The Swans claimed an eight-point win when the fierce rivals last met at the MCG in Round 8, with Sydney young gun Ben Ronke booting seven goals to earn an AFL Rising Star nomination.
Longmire said Hawthorn would present a colossal test.
“Hawthorn are a great football club,” Longmire said.
“They play well all the time, they play well in big games and they’ve got some great players. We understand the challenge just gets greater – it doesn’t get lesser.”
