Sydney Swans defenders Aliir Aliir and Xavier Richards will be up for the challenge of pegging down Gold Coast full-forward Charlie Dixon during Round 9 of the NEAFL.
Dixon, serving a club imposed one week suspension from the AFL side, is expected to play in Saturday’s scheduled curtain-raiser at Metricon Stadium and Allir believes either himself or fellow key Richards will be given the tough task of quelling the 200cm full-forward.
Dixon has kicked 17 goals at AFL level this season including a four-goal haul against Collingwood a fortnight ago.
"We usually take the key forwards so either myself or X (Richards) will be given the job," Aliir said.
"If X takes him, I'll try help him out as much as I can and vice-versa if I get him.
"But it's not just him, they have a few other good players we need to be mindful of so the whole back six will need to be helping each other out for the whole four quarters."
Saturday's clash with the Suns will be Aliir's fourth game back since returning from a PCL injury which sidelined him for more than a month.
Aliir says his body was feeling good and the side is positioned well to improve on its 5-2 record and 3rd place on the ladder with two rounds left before the league-wide bye.
A key to the side's strong start to the season has been the influence of experienced players such as Craig Bird and Dean Towers of late.
Both were standouts in the Swans' big win over Brisbane last weekend and are expected to push their names in front of the match committee with another big outing on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
"They show us the level you need to reach and just how hard you need to work to get into the senior side," Aliir said of Bird and Towers.
"They offer so much experience and leadership...I can usually hear Dean Towers and he's up forward and I'm all the way down at full-back."
Saturday's curtain-raiser is scheduled to kick off at 12pm while the AFL game between the Swans and Suns will follow at 4.35pm.
Seven QBE Sydney Swans Acadmey players will be playing in Saturday's NEAFL clash.
B: Jarred Ellis Josh Hall Jack Leslie
HB: Lachlan Ritchie Daniel Gorringe Seb Tape
C: Nick Malceski Tim Jones Darcy Trask
HF: Clay Cameron Tyrone Downie Louis Herbert
F: Dyson Budarick Charlie Dixon Glendon Woosup
Foll: Zac Smith Greg Broughton Josh Glenn
Inter: James Holland Jesse Joyce Connor West Robert Blood
Emer: Tyler Cornish Josh Cooper Curtis Marsden
In: Charlie Dixon Darcy Trask Tim Jones Dyson Budarick James Holland Josh Glenn Jesse Joyce Connor West Robert Blood Glendon Woosup
Out: John Macansh Josh Cooper Blake Erickson Peter Wright Ethan Reeves Damien Hector Harris Newton Jackson Collins Joel Karwan Matt Wells
B: Xavier Richards Jordon Foote Brandon Jack
HB: Nic Newman Allir Aliir Jack Hiscox
C: Harrison Marsh Zak Jones George Hewett
HF: Jake Veale Tim Coenen Abaina Davis
F: James Rose Toby Nankervis Sean McLaren
Foll: Tom Derickx Craig Bird Dean Towers
Inter: Ryan Hebron Anthony Treacy Matt Wilson Darcy Baron-Hay
Emer: Jake Brown
In: Zak Jones Jake Brown Tim Coenen Ryan Hebron Jake Veale Matt Wilson Darcy Baron-Hay
Out: Zac Fyffe Jackson Crawford Spencer Krochmal James Cubis Lachlan Maples Sam Naismith
