The Sydney Swans host GWS in the fourth Sydney Derby, and the first to be held at the SCG
SUMMARY
The Sydney Swans head into the fourth derby, and the first at the SCG, in solid form following wins over Carlton and Melbourne. The premiers know they need to keep winning if they are to stay in the hunt for the top four. But they have plenty of injury worries, with Sam Reid tearing his quad for a second time against the Demons, adding his name to a list that includes Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta, Rhyce Shaw and Lewis Roberts-Thomson.
Their cross-town rivals are still searching for their first victory of 2013. GWS was extremely competitive against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra last weekend, leading at every change before succumbing by just four points. They will also be buoyed by their previous clash with the Swans, when they overcame a poor start to get in front in the second term before ultimately falling short by 30 points.
R1, 2013, Sydney Swans 16.10 (106) d GWS 11.10 (76) at ANZ Stadium
R14, 2012, Sydney Swans 19.18 (132) d GWS 5.8 (38) at ANZ Stadium
R1, 2012, Sydney Swans 14.16 (100) d GWS 5.7 (37) at ANZ Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. GWS will need to crank up their defence if they are a chance to knock off the premiers for the first time. They concede an AFL-worst 137 points per game, while the Swans are second in the AFL at 75 points per contest.
2. The Swans are the AFL's top-ranked clearance side, averaging 44.1 per game, with GWS sitting 14th with 35.8 per match.
3. Callan Ward had an unusually quiet day against the Bulldogs, dropping him from 24th to 28th overall in the Official AFL Player Ratings. He is still the highest ranked GWS player. The Swans currently have two players in the top 10, Josh Kennedy (fifth) and Kieren Jack (eighth).
4. Kevin Sheedy will coach against the Swans for the 49th and final time. His record against the Sydney-based club is 27 wins, 20 losses and one draw.
5. While Sheedy has a strong record against the Swans, he was involved in the reigning premiers' biggest ever victory at the SCG – a 163-point belting of Essendon in round 17, 1987.
6. The Swans are the AFL's top tackling team again this season, laying 1061 for the year to date. GWS have been a little down in that category in year two, ranked 17th with 798 tackles so far in 2013.
Preliminary Final Team Selection, presented by QBE
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15:03
More than Footy - Isaac Heeney and Robbie Fox
This week on More than Footy Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney sits down with teammate and best mate Robbie Fox to chat about his upcoming 200th game milestone. The duo share how their bromance begun, Heeney opens up on the suspension that ruled him out of Brownlow contention and Foxy reveals why it took him 11 months to propose to now fiancé Bec. TIME CODES: 0.40 – How the Fox & Heeney bromance begun 2.00 Fox reflects on his 100th game milestone 3.00 Heeney reflects on his career to date ahead of his 200th game milestone 4.30 On THAT Isaac Heeney hanger 8.00 Heeney opens up on his first ever AFL suspension 11.00 Fox shares why it took him 11 months to pop the question
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"It was lucky I didn't land on my head" - Heeney
Hear from Swans star Isaac Heeney as he addresses the media ahead of our Preliminary Final clash with Port Adelaide.
00:39
200 games for Isaac Heeney
Isaac Heeney will play his 200th AFL game this Friday night in the Preliminary Final against Port Adelaide.
John Longmire has named his side to clash with Port Adelaide on Friday night.
By the numbers: Isaac Heeney's 200 game milestone
Isaac Heeney will become the 37th Swans 200-gamer in the preliminary final against Port Adelaide at the SCG on Friday night.
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‘More than Footy’ features guests connected to the red and white family who open up about their life and love of the game. The show illustrates that the reach of footy extends well beyond the game on the field.
AFLW Team Selection: Squad named ahead of Sydney Derby
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