The Sydney Swans face the Gold Coast Suns at the SCG on Saturday, in what will mark the eighth meeting between the two sides.
The Swans have won all seven head-to-head meetings so far, with points margins of 70, 72, 41, 35, 52, 63 and 38 for an average of 53. It’s been 41 points and 63 points in their only two meetings at the SCG. The other five have all been at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
Sydney has used 45 players in the seven games, while Gold Coast has used 56.
Heath Grundy, Dan Hanneberry, Kieren Jack and Josh Kennedy have played all seven games for the Swans, while only Brandon Matera has played all seven games for the Suns.
Sydney’s Oliver Florent, Nic Newman, Lewis Melican and Sam Naismith will play their first game against the Gold Coast, while the Gold Coast will field four players who are yet to play against Sydney: Ben Ainsworth, Jack Bowes, Brayden Fiorini and Darcy MacPherson.
Jarryd Lyons (ex-Adelaide) and Jarrod Witts (ex-Collingwood) will play against Sydney wearing Gold Coast colours for the first time.
Sydney’s Sam Reid is the leading goal-kicker in games between the clubs with 10, followed by teammates Harry Cunningham (9), Luke Parker (9), Lance Franklin (8), Jarrad McVeigh (8) and Adam Goodes (7), plus Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch (7) and Charlie Dixon (7). Dixon is now at Port Adelaide.
Harry Cunningham, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Jarrad McVeigh share the record for most goals in a match between the clubs at four, while the single-game best for the Suns against the Swans is three to the credit of Brandon Matera and Charlie Dixon.
Dan Hanneberry and Gold Coast’s Gary Ablett, who will be missing through injury on Saturday, share the record for most possessions in a game between the clubs at 42.
Others with hauls in excess of 35 disposals include Jarrad McVeigh (39), Gold Coast’s Dion Prestia (39), Gary Ablett (37), Ryan O’Keefe (36) and Tom Mitchell (36). Prestia is now at Richmond.
