A great escape or a sign of the times?

A great escape? An amazing win? A test and triumph of wills?

Call it what you like but Friday night’s victory against Essendon polarised the AFL world nonetheless in its drama, the series of events which lead to Gary Rohan’s goal after the final siren and in the jubilant scenes that followed.

The home side was 19 points down with only minutes remaining before kicking three unanswered goals to claim a historic win, Sydney’s fourth-straight and sixth in the past seven games.

Before Ollie Florent’s soccered a goal at the 25-minute mark, which triggered the comeback, commentators were singing the Bombers’ praises and gift-wrapping the four points for their flight home.

But a never-say-die effort in the dying stages made what many thought the impossible, possible.

Was Friday night’s win just another lucky result or does it reflect the team’s change in fortunes and new will to win?

We’ll certainly know more this weekend when the Swans take on the in-form Dees in a big clash at the MCG.


Swans players celebrate a dramatic win over Essendon last Friday night.

The dangerous Dees

Second in the competition for contested possessions. Third for uncontested possessions. Third for centre clearances. Third for tackles.

As Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said on Wednesday: “Their pressure stats are huge, they put enormous pressure around the ball, they have great contested ball numbers and play a quick brand of footy.”

Melbourne is one of the form sides in the competition and its current brand of football, built around high pressure and gut running, has led them to four straight wins and six wins in the past eight contests.

They boast a well-balanced side and, even with several key players out of the side, will prove a tough opponent to beat at the MCG.

Recent history is in Sydney’s favour, having won the past five encounters, but that will all count for nothing if the Swans don’t start well and start how they finished last weekend’s clash.

The ruck battle

Max Gawn’s absence from Melbourne’s side over the past three months didn’t hurt them too much but his presence certainly makes the Dees a better side.

It isn’t just his tap work, Gawn’s influence around the ground is notable while his ability to float forward, take a grab, kick goals or create opportunities is also why Melbourne is a better side with its number one ruckman.

It’ll be a big night for, pending any changes, Swans duo Sam Naismith and Callum Sinclair.

Both have carried the Swans’ ruck duties in Kurt Tippett’s absence well but they’ll have another big test against Gawn who amassed 15 disposals and 42 hit outs in Saturday’s thriller against West Coast, his first game back from a serious hamstring injury.

Naismith and Sinclair have played together only once at the MCG, that was two rounds ago against Richmond, where they were double-teamed and got the better of former teammate and now Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis (50 hit outs to 21).

They’ll have to lift to another level against 2016 All Australian in Gawn to give their midfielders first use of the footy on Friday night.

Shutting down Max Gawn will be crucial to the Swans getting a win over the Demons.

The master and his apprentice

As confirmed by Longmire on Wednesday, Zak Jones comes straight back into the senior side after serving his one-match suspension.

Booked and subsequently rubbed out for striking in Sydney’s win over Richmond, Jones’ inclusion will be a huge boost given the speedy midfielder’s sparkling form this season (averaging more than 20 disposals a game in 2017).

“Absolutely,” Longmire said when asked about Jones’ possible selection. “He’s been in terrific form this season and he’s a really important player for us so he’ll come straight back.”

Who goes out is another question for the Longmire and the Match Committee to decide ahead of 5pm announcements today, along with the matter of Jones’ mentor Jarrad McVeigh.

Longmire said this time last week they wanted to give McVeigh, who’s managed just two games this season due to soft-tissue injuries, a solid block of football before bringing him back.

But saying that he’s such a vital player to this young side, a general in defence, so it will be tempting for selectors to roll the dice and bring the 289-gamer and former skipper back into the side.

Jarrad McVeigh and Zak Jones are both in line for a return to face the Demons.