The showdown of two teams with some of the best contested ball winners in the competition will make for a brutal preliminary final on Friday night at the MCG.
On one side you have Josh Kennedy, Tom Mitchell, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery and on the other the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie.
The Swans are prepared for the contest after dominating the midfield battle with Adelaide to run out easy winners in last week’s semi final.
Director of Coaching and Development John Blakey is in little doubt the midfield battle will be where the game is won and lost.
“We saw the way that Geelong player against Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago,” Blakey said.
“It is going to be a physical encounter I have no doubt about that because finals always are.
“The stakes are so high with a Grand Final berth at stake so I would expect a real physical encounter.”
Blakey is confident his young side is prepared for the Friday night lights at the MCG.
“It is the place you want to be at this time of the year so we are really looking forward to it,” he said.
“We play this ground pretty well and all the boys love getting down here.”
The Swans will be boosted by the return of Kurt Tippet who has recovered from a fracture in his jaw while Zak Jones is back from injury replacing co-captain Jarrad McVeigh.
Jones is expected to add important pace across the field with his excitement and energy to bolster the Swans backline.
