In the latest edition of Opposition Watch, Swans Media looks at the Giants camp ahead of Thursday night’s Sydney Derby at Optus Stadium.
Recent form
The Giants have won their last three matches and most recently defeated Essendon in a gutsy come from behind effort. They trailed by five goals early in third term, but staged a gritty comeback, booting the next six goals unanswered and ultimately running out four-point winners. Included in the Giants recent win streak are victories against form teams Richmond and the Gold Coast Suns.
The Giants also hold a three game Sydney Derby winning streak.
Ins and outs
Giants defender Phil Davis was hobbled by a knee injury during last week’s match against the Bombers and will need to prove his fitness to take his spot in Derby XIX. Coach Leon Cameron rated Davis a 60/40 chance to play during his midweek press conference. Should Davis be forced to sit out, experienced defender Adam Kennedy is waiting in the wings.
Toby Greene and Matt de Boer will not return from injury this week.
Key match-up
Lachie Whitfield has been dominant through the Giants recent three game winning streak. The classy midfielder has averaged 27 possessions over the last three matches, earning 18 Coaches Association votes. He forms part of one of the competitions best midfields which includes Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio and the in-form Tim Taranto. With former Swan Shane Mumford’s tap dominance, the Swans face a significant task in curtailing the powerful Giants on-ball brigade.
Last time they met
Round 20, 2019 @ Giants Stadium
Sydney Swans 12.9 (81) def. by GWS Giants 12.11 (83)
Sydney Derby XVIII was the closest in the short history between the two teams.
Little more than two goals separated the teams for much of the match. The Swans were accurate early, with five straight goals in the first quarter, but the Giants responded and carried an advantage into half time and three-quarter time. Early accuracy deserted the Swans late in the game, and in a thrilling finish their two goals, four behinds in the final term saw them fall just two points shy of the Giants, who kicked 2.1.
Hearts were in mouths late when the Swans’ Sam Reid appeared to mark deep in the forward line in the final seconds, but the effort was not enough to convince the umpires and play on was called.
Interestingly, the two best players on the ground that day will not take their place in Thursday night’s match, with Isaac Heeney and Toby Greene both sidelined with injuries.
What they said
Giants coach Leon Cameron on the Sydney Derby rivalry.
“There is no doubt it is a really, really fierce rivalry.
“I think, even last year, we played at our home ground and we were trying to secure our spot coming into the finals. It went down to the last second and the Swans were probably a bit unlucky not to win that game, and we got home by a couple of points.
“It doesn’t matter where it is, whether it is early in the year or in the middle or late. We match up well against each other and we have close games. We are two teams in one town and clearly one team wants to win over the other. Its built and its built and its built. Even though there’s a set of different circumstances on Thursday, we know we are going to have huge challenge. We look forward to that. It’s going to be another really good game of footy.”
