In the lead up to the first game of the home and away season against West Coast we ponder some of the hot topics heading into Sunday's match.
How will the teams perform in their first official hitout of the season under the lights of the new Optus Stadium in Perth?
How does the battle of the big men play out and can Buddy continue his recent dominance of the competition?
The Round 1 factor
There is no doubt the pressure cooker of Round 1 is always a factor for every club as they look to start their season off on the right note. Despite the match being worth four points, like all others, it seems to have so much more writing on it as every side tries to get underway with a win. After a horror start to the 2017 season there is no doubt the Swans will come out firing against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon as they look to show the competition they will be a force to fear in season 2018. The final match of the round on a new stadium poses an exciting prospect to get the season underway.
Ruck duel
Callum Sinclair will have a big task ahead of him as he goes head to head with West Coast superstar Nic Naitanui. The former Eagles ruckman was selected as the sole specialist ruckman in the Swans side after the recent retirement of Kurt Tippet and season ending injury to Sam Naismith. Sinclair has shown he is capable of taking the reins as the sole ruckman for both the Eagles and the Swans throughout his career and will have no bigger task than against his former teammate on Sunday afternoon. After doing it successfully towards the end of last season expect Dean Towers to take on the back up ruck duties supporting Sinclair.
Opening of a new stadium
There has been plenty of hype about the new Optus Stadium throughout the off-season and now the Swans are set to be the first side to travel over West to play on the new turf. A ground unfamiliar even to the West Coast Eagles is sure to even up the home ground advantage, although the stadium is expected to be filled with blue and gold. There is always plenty riding on a Round 1 contest but add in the factor of a new stadium and the excitement reaches fever pitch ahead of Sunday night’s contest.
Buddy to back it up?
It was an incredible season from Lance Franklin in season 2017 as he went on to win his fourth Coleman Medal booting 73 goals from 24 games. The question now remains can Buddy back it up again this season? The superstar forward has shown no signs of slowing down and if his pre-season is anything to go by is expected to once again fire this season. The 271-game veteran underwent two minor surgeries before Christmas and displayed the kind of footy in the Swans’ two pre-season wins that has him primed for another big year.
