We look at some of the burning issues surrounding the Sydney Swans Round 2 encounter against Essendon at the SCG.
Footy is back!
It has been a three month wait but footy is finally back! After a halt to the 2020 AFL season due to an industry stoppage caused by the coronavirus it is time for the season to resume. The Round kicked off on Thursday night and Swans fans will have to wait until Sunday afternoon before their team is back in action. After a strong showing in Round 1 the Swans will be looking to build on their opening round win when they take on Essendon at the SCG. Sydney has won eight of their last ten matches against Essendon but this is a new season under new circumstances so everyone will be waiting with bated breath to see how this Sunday afternoon thriller plays out.
Maintaining momentum
The Sydney Swans were very impressive without Lance Franklin and Sam Reid in the opening round of the season with a three-point win over Adelaide. The young Swans showed an exciting brand of football in their first game of the season as a small forward line put on immense pressure to create turnovers. Will the Swans be able to take anything from that Round 1 win or is it a fresh start after a three-month stoppage to the season? Only time will tell with the bounce of the ball at 3.35pm on Sunday afternoon at the SCG.
Forward set up
The Sydney Swans will be without a number of tall targets for Sunday’s match with Lance Franklin (hamstring), Sam Reid (calf) or Sam Naismith (hamstring) all out of the side. With tall forward line options limited the Swans are set to rely on a smaller forward line for Round 2 – similar to what worked so well against Adelaide in Round 1. Sam Gray, Tom Papley and Will Hayward provided strong pressure in the front half with Isaac Heeney, Tom McCartin and Nick Blakey as the marking targets. How will that forward set up fare against the Bombers on Sunday afternoon?
Heeney stands up
Isaac Heeney looked ready to take the 2020 season by storm in a dominant Round 1 performance against Adelaide. The 24-year-old had 16 disposals, five marks and four goals against Adelaide in a best on ground performance. Entering his sixth season the 186cm versatile forward will be looking for a career best season after spending more time in the midfield in 2019. Heeney has now passed the 100-game mark and booted more than 100 goals in his career so what does 2020 hold for the high flying forward? Without Franklin or Reid in the forward set up for the next few weeks is it Heeney’s chance to stand tall?
