SUMMARY
Sydney travels to GMHBA Stadium boasting a record no other club in the competition can lay claim to – defeating the Cats at Geelong in their past two visits to the venue. In last year's win, Dan Hannebery starred with 21 disposals and two goals but he will miss Saturday’s clash with groin soreness. Hannebery will join superstar forward Lance Franklin (heel) on the sidelines. The Swans will have plenty to prove after last week's loss to an undermanned Adelaide at the SCG, and a disappointing outing against Geelong in last year's finals series (where they were thrashed by 59 points). Cat Mark Blicavs' recent form as a key defender may be put on hold, with a return to the midfield on the cards in the absence of key forwards Franklin and Sam Reid (quad). Geelong's bevy of young stars shone at home last time around against St Kilda and will be out to impress against a strong Swans midfield group smarting from last week's loss. Brandan Parfitt, Sam Menegola, Tim Kelly and George Horlin-Smith - all players with fewer than 50 games experience – stood up in last week's win on the road.
WHERE AND WHEN: GMHBA Stadium, Saturday, April 28, 1.45pm AEST
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
SF, 2017, Geelong 15.8 (98) d Sydney 5.9 (39) at the MCG
R20, 2017, Sydney 16.11 (107) d Geelong 8.13 (61) at GMHBA Stadium
PF, 2016, Sydney 15.7 (97) d Geelong 8.12 (60) at the MCG
R16, 2016, Sydney 15.8 (98) d Geelong 9.6 (60) at GMHBA Stadium
R19, 2015, Geelong 14.11 (95) d Sydney 9.9 (63) at GMHBA Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Swans will be well aware of Patrick Dangerfield's capabilities in attack. The Cats star kicked four goals in last year's semi-final. He spent large minutes forward last week against Port Adelaide in the absence of Tom Hawkins.
2. One possible advantage for the Swans could be in the centre clearances. The Swans average 13 per game, well ahead of the Cats who sit 17th with an average of 10.2.
3. Sydney holds the wood over Geelong in recent encounters, winning five of the past seven matches. A Cats win will see them boast consecutive victories against the Swans for the first time since 2013.
4. Expect a match played mostly between the arcs on Saturday. Only Brisbane is averaging fewer inside 50s than Geelong (50.8) this season, while Sydney is ranked 14th with 52 per game.
5. Both sides are strong contested marking sides in 2018, Geelong averaging 11.4 per game and Sydney 11.2, ranked fifth and sixth respectively in the competition.
6. Ranked 96th in the AFL Players Ratings this time last year, Cats midfielder Mitch Duncan is back to 54th place, his best standing since round 10, 2016.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
After a past fortnight in which he has had just 12 and 11 disposals in games against the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide, Swans midfielder Kieren Jack will be hoping for a stronger performance against the Cats.
