Thursday night lights.
The Sydney Swans haven’t had to wait long to put their 0-3 record behind them and refocus their attention to the next cab off the rank – West Coast.
The red and white are in Perth, putting their final preparations in place for their huge Round 4 encounter with the sixth-ranked Eagles.
There’s plenty on the line for the visitors.
Not since 1993 has Sydney lost its first four games of a season, while never have the Swans lost four consecutive games in the same season under John Longmire.
Under the Thursday night lights of Subiaco Oval, in front of a passionate and football-hungry Western Australian crowd, Longmire’s men will be put under immense pressure to secure the four points.
Seizing Subi.
Subiaco Oval hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Sydney Swans over the past two seasons.
They’ve come out on top in only one of the last four encounters, the biggest loss coming against West Coast to the tune of 52 points in late 2015.
Before then, either side of the 2012 Premiership, the wider expanses of Subiaco proved fruitful with Longmire’s men coming away with five wins from six clashes between 2012 and 2014.
To get back to that winning formula, they’ll need to combat a West Coast outfit which boast an impeccable recent record on its home deck (28-4 since the start of 2015).
We have to go back to Round 16, 2014, for the last time we came away with a win against West Coast at Subiaco Oval.
Time ticking on Tippo.
Will Kurt Tippett play? That’s the question on everyone’s lips going into Thursday night’s clash.
Significant to the structure of the final 22, Tippett was labelled a chance to take on the Eagles by John Longmire after missing the loss to Collingwood due to an ankle injury suffered the week before.
His influence around the contest, on top of his ability to float forward and kick goals, means another week on the sidelines will be telling.
The Eagles aren’t without their ruck troubles as well, both Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett are injured.
But former Cat Nathan Vardy is in strong form while journeyman Jonathan Giles is an able addition so the work will most definitely be cut out for Sam Naismith and former Eagle Callum Sinclair.
Kurt Tippett reaches for his ankle in the Swans' Round 2 clash with the Bulldogs.
Beware the Bud.
There haven’t been many times in his 250-game career Lance Franklin has left the field without a goal to his name.
Post 2006, when he ultimately transformed into the goal-kicking machine which we all know today, Franklin has gone goalless in only 14 matches.
Seven of those have come with Buddy in the red and white, the latest was in last weekend’s loss to the Magpies.
It is very rare that Franklin goes two weeks in a row without a goal – in fact it’s happened only once before (Round 5 and 6, 2013) – so expect the 30-year-old to be up for the challenge against the Eagles on Thursday night.
Goalless in Round 3. Can 'Buddy' bounce back on Thursday night?
A tribute to the fallen
Every season for the past seven years the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles have played for the HMAS Sydney II Trophy.
Played annually, the match serves as a tribute to the 645 personnel who died when the HMAS Sydney II was sunk in 1941.
The Swans and Eagles represent the HMAS Sydney II’s home port of Sydney and the ship’s final resting place off the coast of WA.
Sydney has got their hands on the commemorative shield in six of seven contests.
The player judged best on ground will be awarded the replica gun shell gallantry trophy. The player will also receive a silver HMAS Sydney II commemorative coin, minted after the ship’s discovery.
Jarrad McVeigh accepts the HMAS Sydney II Trophy at the SCG after last year's Round 5 victory over West Coast.
