Swans challenged … and responded.
The evenness of the competition means unexpected results are inevitable and can come in any round.
Brisbane was up for the challenge on Sunday, applying immense pressure on the third-placed Swans by taking the game on at every opportunity.
The Swans responded though and kept their noses in front at the final siren, thanks largely to a strong mark and telling goal in the dying minutes of the match, to claim their fifth win of the season.
Another challenging game awaits against Essendon on Saturday. As coach John Longmire said on Tuesday, “they've got quite a bit of experience … they're getting plenty of the footy … we're preparing for their best as we always do.”
Selection
Gary Rohan has been deemed fit and ready for a senior recall. But is the speedster ready to make the step up?
After an interrupted pre-season, Rohan returned to competitive football via the NEAFL last weekend. He received the thumbs up from the coaches and put his case forward with a promising performance.
Will match committee bring him in? Or is another week in the reserves on the cards?
If the selectors decide to bring him in, it won’t be at the expense of Nick Smith or Callum Sinclair. The duo, despite respective knee scares, are expected to face the Bombers after being cleared of any serious issues.
Lloyd’s rapid rise to 50
Jake Lloyd is among a number of Swans who have taken their game to the next level, with the wingman averaging a career-best 23 disposals a game in season 2016.
It’s been a season of career highs. After a strong 35-possession display in the opening round, Lloyd backed up with an impressive 13 contested possessions against Brisbane last weekend.
The 22-year-old is in line for his 50th game, a milestone which has arrived at a rapid rate considering the boy from Horsham, in Victoria’s central west, arrived in Sydney three seasons ago as a rookie.
Since his 2014 debut, Lloyd has missed only two games. Both came last season and one was due to an ankle injury.
Expect the No. 44 not to be weighed down by the occasion and go about his business against Essendon on Sunday.
Jake Lloyd in action against West Coast.
Don’t doubt the Dons
Essendon showed promising signs against Carlton last weekend, in the game up to their necks to three-quarter-time before fading away.
They will be buoyed and hungry for another win and, with an experienced list to help guide their youngsters around the SCG, will serve up a considerable challenge for the home side.
Joe Daniher is due for a big game while coach John Worsfold has the option of adding a seasoned defender in Nathan Grima following his best-on-ground performance in the VFL.
Working against the visitors is an eight-game losing streak on the road and a five-game drought in Sydney. They’ll look to amend that on Saturday.
Josh Kennedy is surrounded by Essendon players in the clubs' last encounter at the SCG.
Buddy
There’s hardly a week that goes by without us dedicating a topic to Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.
And for good reason.
After his five-goal performance against Brisbane, Franklin moved to 17th on the all-time goal-kickers’ list. He now sits above Hawthorn’s Peter Hudson and North Melbourne’s Wayne Carey on 729 career goals.
Does the star forward have another bag in him?
Needing only six goals to equal St Kilda’s Bill Mohr in 16th place, the 29-year-old is enjoying his best start to a season since 2012 and averages nearly five goals per game against the Bombers so we could see Franklin tick off yet another milestone in this column.
Lance Franklin sits in 17th place on the all-time goal-kickers' list.
