The Sydney Swans’ clash with the GWS Giants at Spotless Stadium on Saturday is brimming with Hot Topics.

The ferocious cross-town rivalry, a gripping rucking showdown, Sydney’s blossoming young guns and plenty more make the Round 6 fixture a match that cannot be missed.

The 10^th-placed Swans are winless and anchored to the bottom of the ladder, while the Giants are perched in ninth.

But ladder positions are out the window as a must-see encounter awaits. 

Sydney Derby rivalry
The Swans and Giants will forever clash. They are the only two AFL clubs in the Harbour City and the pride and passion behind the Sydney Derby is at an all-time high. The fierce cross-town rivalry extends beyond AFL level. Plenty is on the line when the NEAFL and Academy sides go toe-to-toe and if head-to-head is of indication Saturday will deliver an unmissable encounter. Sydney and GWS have met on 23 occasions since the Giants joined the competition in 2012 and the Swans hold a 12-11 advantage. The cross-town history is punctured with gripping duels, including a one-point thriller in 2016 and a grand final decided by four points later in the season. The Giants will be out to balance the ledger on Saturday but will face a Swans outfit willing to put everything on the line as it eyes its first win of the season. 

An eye on revenge
The Swans will be out to exact revenge after falling to a four-point loss to the Giants when the two sides last met in Round 1 this season. The Giants led at every change but the lead shifted on multiple occasions throughout an exhilarating final term. Towering Swans ruckman-forward Joel Amartey kept the Swans in the contest through two goals in as many minutes in the third quarter, but the Giants would go on to get their 2018 campaign off to a winning start. Expect the Swans to front the Giants with plenty of fire. 

Juggernaut rucking battle
A battle will play out within a battle as Swans ruckman Darcy Cameron crosses swords with Giants big man Dawson Simpson. The Giant stands at 210 centimetres and weighs in at 109 kilograms and is running second in most hit-outs per game (38.3) behind Aspley’s Jake Spencer (38.8). Cameron towers at 204 centimetres and weighs in at 100 kilograms and is running sixth (29), but his last two outings have him primed ahead of the crunch clash. The 22-year-old finished with 27 disposals, 33 hit-outs and a pair of goals against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 4, before firing with 21 touches, 37 hit-outs and a goal against Aspley last Saturday. Cameron is bounding along under the tutelage of former West Coast Eagles big man Dean Cox, who is now a midfield coach at the Swans, as well as senior ruckmen Callum Sinclair and Sam Naismith. Simpson is seven years older than Cameron at 29 years of age, but the battle of the big men promises to be an epic. 

Experienced cogs firing
Despite Sydney’s winless start to the season, a number of Swans on the brink of senior selection have lit up the NEAFL stage in 2018. Dan Robinson (35) is averaging the most disposals per game for the Swans, while Nic Newman (32) and Colin O’Riordan (26) are also enjoying rich veins of form. Robinson and Newman finished with a game-high 34 touches in the Aspley clash last Saturday, while Robinson booted a pair of goals. Newman and O’Riordan are pivotal to the Swans whether playing at half-back or in the midfield, while Robinson wins plenty of the Sherrin when playing on the ball and brings plenty of threat to the forward line. Expect Robinson, Newman and O’Riordan to again turn in strong showings as they look to press their AFL claims. 

Academy top-ups coming of age
Injuries in the seniors and reserves have given Swans fans a glimpse of the next generation of stars. Six QBE Sydney Swans Academy players made their NEAFL debuts in the match with Aspley in Hamish Ellem, Jordan Adams, Jacob Dol, Harry Maguire, Noah Cassalini and Michael Carroll. Ellem is a 16-year-old behemoth who offers plenty of grunt whether in the ruck or playing as a forward and he slotted in seamlessly at NEAFL level in a return of two goals and 13 possessions. Academy star Nick Eynaud made his debut in Round 1 and kicked the opening goal of the game last Saturday off a neat left-foot snap. Seven Academy players made their first NEAFL appearances in the Gold Coast clash the week prior as the Swans again punched above their weight in a nine-point loss. Academy products Jake Brown and James Bell enjoyed invaluable time in the NEAFL and signed with the Swans at the 2018 Rookie Draft last November. The Academy top-ups are headed in the right direction.