The intense Sydney Derby rivalry headlines the latest edition of Hot Topics ahead of the Sydney Swans’ clash with GWS at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The fight for Sydney supremacy
The Sydney Derby rivalry has built into a fiercely competitive conflict. While the Swans claimed eight of the first nine cross-town battles, the Giants have since become, in the words of Sydney coach John Longmire earlier in the week, a “formidable unit”. The Giants have won four of the 14 Sydney Derby clashes and the Swans have taken the honours in the past two by an average of 14.5 points. While the rivalry reached a climax when the two Harbour City clubs squared off in a 2016 qualifying final, Sydney Derby XV shapes as arguably the most intense cross-town clash since. Both sides sit inside the top eight and will be looking to gain momentum as the road to the finals ramps up.
The road to September
Sydney Derby XV will be crucial to the final make-up of the top eight. GWS sits in third and Sydney sixth ahead of the final two rounds of the regular season, but a log-jammed ladder means the positions the two clubs will finish are anyone’s guess. Richmond, West Coast and GWS are the only three sides to have booked their tickets to September, while the 11th-placed Essendon remains in contention to play finals football. Sydney is locked on 52 points with Hawthorn and Collingwood, while Melbourne and Port Adelaide sit just one win behind. Both the Swans and Giants have set their sights on victory in pursuit of a top-four berth.
A test of depth
Although the opening bounce of the ensuing Sydney Derby clash remains a number of days away, the injury front suggests a war of attrition has already been fought. Both sides have been hampered by mounting injury tolls in the lead-up to Saturday’s match, with their hard-hit stocks copping further whacks in the latest round of action. Defender Alex Johnson ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in Sydney’s win over Melbourne on Sunday, while backman Nick Smith is set to miss six weeks after sustaining a hamstring tendon injury in the nine-point victory. GWS lost three players in its match with Adelaide at Manuka Oval last Saturday, with star midfielder Josh Kelly (concussion), veteran defender Heath Shaw (knee) and utility Sam Reid (hamstring) all falling to injury. But with injury comes opportunity, so keep an eye on the Swans and Giants set to earn call-ups to the big time.
Buddy eyes another milestone
Star Swans forward Lance Franklin bagged six goals as Sydney toppled Collingwood a fortnight ago – and the four-time Coleman Medallist is on the verge of again stunning the masses. Franklin will catch Hawthorn great Leigh Matthews in eighth position for most goals in VFL/AFL history if he boots three goals in Sydney Derby XV. The Western Australian kicked 580 goals in Hawks colours and has piled up 332 goals in red and white. He sits on 912 goals ahead of Saturday’s clash.
White Ribbon Cup
Saturday’s winner will claim the White Ribbon Cup, an initiative that raises awareness for the male-led campaign to end violence against women. White Ribbon is a global movement of men and boys that works to put a stop to violence against women and girls. The Swans and Giants have played for the White Ribbon Cup in every Sydney Derby since Round 1, 2012, the inaugural cross-town clash.
