Curtain-raiser football headlines the latest edition of Hot Topics as the Sydney Swans prepare for a stoush with the Gold Coast Suns at the SCG on Saturday morning.
Curtain-raiser footy
The NEAFL match will roll out the red carpet for Sydney’s date with Gold Coast in the AFL, meaning a host of Swans will be out to impress senior coach John Longmire as he watches on from the stands. The senior players are generally able to catch the opening half of the curtain-raiser and the NEAFL side gets a big kick out of having Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and a long list of other star Swans watch on. Swans fans are encouraged to head to the SCG early to see the NEAFL side take on the Suns at 10:30am, before the senior team hosts Gold Coast at 2:10pm.
AFL-listed quality awaiting gun Swans
A number of Swans looking to bash down the door for senior selection will relish the chance to clash with AFL-listed talent. Midfielders Dean Towers, Jordan Dawson and Jordan Foote have pieced together sparkling form in the NEAFL in recent weeks, while Alex Johnson is hitting his straps in defence as he works his way back from his latest injury setback. The Swans have faced AFL-listed quality in three of their last four fixtures and the likes of Kade Kolodjashnij, Jack Scrimshaw and Jacob Heron now await.
A brewing rivalry
The Swans sit in first on the ladder and the Suns eighth but the two clubs are locked at one-all in 2018. Gold Coast gritted out a nine-point win in Round 4 before Sydney struck back with a 67-point victory in Round 11. Sydney took the chocolates in an AFL curtain-raiser to Gold Coast’s clash with St Kilda in Round 11, and the Suns will have revenge on their mind in search of a win of their own on the big stage on Saturday.
