The Sydney Swans’ clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night is brimming with Hot Topics.
The Swans’ impressive record against the Saints, facing a former Swan, the annual Pride Game and plenty more surround the Round 12 fixture.
Maintaining the upper hand
The Swans will be shooting for a ninth straight win over the Saints and haven’t lost to St Kilda since Round 9, 2012. Sydney has won by an average of 54 points across its last eight wins over St Kilda and claimed a 42-point victory when the sides last met in Round 18, 2017. The Swans also lead the Saints in the overall head-to-head race, having won 135 games to St Kilda’s 77. They clubs have also played out three draws from the 215 times they have met.
Undefeated away run
The Swans will be out to maintain an undefeated 2018 run on the road on Saturday. They have notched away wins over the West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats, Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions this season. The most recent came against Brisbane in Round 10 as they gritted out a hard-fought 18-point victory in wet conditions. The Swans have travelled to Etihad Stadium once this season and clinched a thrilling seven-point win as the AFL’s latest Rising Star nomination, Oliver Florent, sealed the game with a stunning goal on the run at the death.
Meeting former Swan Membrey
Former Swan Tim Membrey is charging towards the Round 12 match off the back of a six-goal haul against the Eagles last Saturday. Three of the 24-year-old’s majors came in the final quarter as the Saints ran in seven goals to the Eagles’ one en route to a 13-point loss. Membrey signed with Sydney via pick 47 at the 2012 National Draft and played one game for the Club – against Essendon in Round 19, 2014. The likes of backmen Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe and Nick Smith have enjoyed impressive starts to the season and whoever is tasked with shutting down their former teammate will have to bring their best.
Pride Game
The Swans and Saints will play the third Pride Game for premiership points in history on Saturday. The Rainbow Swans are the official LGBTIQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans Intersex Questioning) supporters group of the Sydney Swans and the LGBTIQ community is of huge significance to the Club. The Swans are also approaching one year since the Club launched its Diversity Action Plan (DAP). The Dap is a joint initiative of the Board, staff, players and community leaders and among the four pillars it addresses is LGBTIQ pride. All 22 Swans will be wearing Pride socks in the clash with the Saints.
Midfield bulls collide
Two of the competition’s most elite midfielders will cross swords in Sydney skipper Josh Kennedy and St Kilda’s Sebastian Ross. Kennedy has ranked among the top three in the competition in most contested possessions per game every completed season since 2011 and continues to lead the Swans in their trademark pressure at the contest. Ross enjoyed a break-out season in 2016 and has continued to fire since. The 2017 All-Australian runs 10th in most disposals per game (28) after the opening 11 rounds of the 2018 season and tallied 32 touches, nine clearances and six inside 50s in his side’s match with West Coast last Saturday. Keep an eye on the two midfield barometers as they are both critical to how their sides fare.
