The Sydney Swans’ clash with Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday is bursting with Hot Topics. 

A salivating midfield match-up, the Swans’ strong record against the Dockers, a special occasion on the Club’s calendar and plenty more surround the Round 9 match.

Midfield battle
Two juggernaut midfields will go toe-to-toe when the Swans and Dockers meet. Sydney’s Josh Kennedy – who is set to play his 200^th Club game – Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery (if fit to play) will face Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale, David Mundy and Danyle Pearce. Pearce (31.9) and 2015 Brownlow Medallist Fyfe (31.6) sit in the top 10 for most disposals per game after the opening eight rounds. Fyfe is particularly dangerous as he wins the inside and outside ball, has an explosive burst from the pack and impacts on the scoreboard when cycling through the forward line. Champion ruckman Aaron Sandilands supplies ample service to his followers and he and Fyfe form one of the most potent duos in the competition. Kennedy, Parker and Hannebery have been the barometers of the Swans’ engine room for the best part of the past decade and will again have to fire if the Swans are to prevail. 

Rucking duel
Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair hailed Sandilands as the AFL’s premier big man and on Saturday will face the veteran ruckman. Sinclair played as a forward in 2017 and was thrown a colossal challenge when Kurt Tippett retired during the summer and Sam Naismith suffered a season-ending knee injury in the pre-season. But the former West Coast Eagles big man has punched above his weight as Sydney’s go-to ruckman this season. He is ranked sixth in the competition for average hit-outs per game (35) and has continued to impact in front of goal despite his change of role. He won the rucking battle in the Giants clash in Round 3 and finished with three goals for the night. But Sinclair is now set to go head-to-head with a four-time All-Australian ruckman with 262 AFL games of experience and who tips the measuring tape at 211 centimetres. Sinclair has faced battle-hardened ruckmen Nic Naitanui, Sam Jacobs and Todd Goldstein this season and is sure to relish another massive task in a battle with Sandilands. 

SCG form
A clash with a strong outfit will provide the Swans with the ideal opportunity to patch up their indifferent 2018 home form. Sydney has won just one of its first four SCG clashes this season, overcoming GWS in a 16-point win in Round 3 and losing to Port Adelaide, Adelaide and North Melbourne. Expect the Swans to front the Dockers with all guns blazing. 

History
The Swans hold a slim 18-14 head-to-head buffer over the Dockers but, despite their recent home-game troubles, haven’t lost to Fremantle the last four times the sides have met at the SCG. They haven’t lost a home game to the Dockers since Round 17, 2011 and have won their two most recent home clashes with Fremantle by an average of 97 points.

Red Day
All Swans fans are encouraged to deck themselves out in red clothing in support of Redkite, an Australian cancer charity which supports children and young people. Red Day is an annual event at the Club and the Round 9 match will again see the Swans host a wide range of activities. Redkite volunteers will be roaming Driver Avenue, situated at the front of the SCG, where they will be selling #SwansRedDay wigs, with all proceeds going to Redkite thanks to the Sydney Swans Foundation. Redkite celebrities and ambassadors will also be hosting a pre-game show on Driver Avenue, while goal umpires will use red flags. At three-quarter time, fans will be encouraged to wave their phone torches at Redkite families and volunteers, who will be seated in the upper Victor Trumper Stand, in a show of support and hope. Red Day is a significant date on the Club’s calendar and the families of the children with cancer greatly appreciate the support of Swans fans.