We look at some of the Hot Topics heading into Round 6 between the Sydney Swans and Richmond.
Debutants
Chad Warner and Dylan Stephens have been named to make their debut on Sunday afternoon against Richmond. Selected with pick 5 in last year’s National Draft, Stephens has impressed with his outside run and skills with the football in hand. Warner, a 19-year-old from WA is set to play his first AFL game after showcasing his ability as a hard in-and-under midfielder since being selected by the club at pick 39 in the National Draft. What can the pair bring to the side in their first outing at AFL level? Only time will tell.
Another trip North
Sydney is set to head to Queensland for a second weekend in a row after playing the West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium last weekend. The Swans will board an early flight on Sunday morning to jump on a plane alongside cross town rivals GWS Giants who are also playing in Queensland on Sunday. This week the Swans are set to head down the road to Brisbane as they face the Tigers at the Gabba.
Mouth watering match ups
Sunday’s contest is set to be full of mouth-watering match ups right across the field with star players on both sides. Should Tom Lynch manage to overcome hand surgery during the week and take his place in the side it will see on of the best key forwards in the game against one of the best key defenders in the current game in Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe. Down the other end of the ground Sydney forward Tom Papley, who currently leads the Coleman Medal, will face up against premiership defender Nick Vlastuin for the Tigers. Then we head to the middle where Dustin Martin is set to lead a midfield up against Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy.
Footy in Sydney
Three games of AFL in Sydney in the one weekend is something that has never happened before but is happening in Round 6. The irony, not one team who calls New South Wales home will be playing in our home state. It kicked off with Geelong v Brisbane on Thursday night, continues with a blockbuster between Hawthorn and Collingwood at Giants Stadium on Friday night before Melbourne and the Gold Coast do battle on Saturday night. Normally there is just one match of AFL in Sydney in a weekend but in the uncertain times that have come this season anything can happen!
