Finals Fever hits Sydney
Sydney Swans skipper Josh Kennedy summed it up perfectly when the captain and coach came together for their annual pre-finals appearance on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 with commentators Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson.
“It’s a fantastic ground to play on (and) it’s a fantastic ground to watch,” Kennedy said when asked for his thoughts on playing in front of a sell-out SCG crowd in an Elimination Final against Essendon.
“I can’t wait to get out there and I know I speak for the team when I say it’s an exciting time of year.
“To be playing at the SCG, in front of a full house, you can’t ask for anything more.”
Finals fever has well and truly descended on the Harbour City, the SCG serving as the epicentre for what’s been touted as a hot do-or-die final between two talented teams.
The clash is officially a sell-out, leaving the SCG’s attendance records wide open for the taking.
The all-time record stands at 46,168 (Rd 22 v Geelong, 1997) and the largest crowd ever to witness a finals match at the SCG is 41,731 (Preliminary Final v Essendon, 1996).
Could you imagine if both or at least the finals record was surpassed? What a spectacle that would be!
Can the resurgence roll on?
For the Sydney Swans to be right in the thick of this year’s finals action is a remarkable achievement.
Never before has an AFL club recovered from a 0-6 start to any season to break into the top eight and be still alive come September.
In the Swans’ case, there’s more than just a faint heartbeat, the blood is pumping at a rapid rate and isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
But, if this season has taught us anything, is that anything’s possible. It’s an Elimination Final, meaning no second chances unlike the previous three seasons, so it’s literally crunch time.
Just how long can the monitor still flicker? Can the Sydney Swans keep the resurgence rolling or will it be lights out before September ends?
There’s a strong chance the resurgence can keep rolling on.
There’ll be some sore bodies, sure, even after the pre-finals break, but every week since Round 6 has been do-or-die for the Sydney Swans meaning they’re well-rehearsed and well-tuned to the intensity and pressure of must-win contests.
Plus, they’ve got plenty of finals experience, led by one man.
Jarrad McVeigh will play his 26th final and move into equal second, alongside Jude Bolton, for the most finals appearances by any Swan. Top spot on that list is owned by Adam Goodes on 28.
Selection
Head of Football Tom Harley loudly hinted at some early selection news in Tuesday’s injury update by saying “expect to see” both Dan Hannebery and Tom Papley in Saturday’s clash.
So, suggesting Harley hasn’t put up a blatant smokescreen, the Sydney Swans’ main headache at the selection table with lie with the ruck department.
Both Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair went down with ankle injuries in the final round, but recovered well to retake their positions on the ground and see the win against Carlton through.
The week off has definitely helped their injury concerns and their cause with Sam Naismith also vying for a spot.
The big man returned from a four-week injury layoff with a big performance in last weekend’s NEAFL Preliminary Final to press his claims.
The questions posed to Thursday’s match committee will be whether to stick with Tippett and Sinclair, who’ve formed the ruck combo since Round 20, or does one make way for Naismith?
Or, do they take just the one ruckman in?
All questions will be answered in this week’s Centrum Team Selection.
Essendon.
Essendon travels to Sydney ahead of Saturday’s do-or-die final with a firm belief it can rattle a few cages this September, starting with the Swans’.
The Bombers are a well-balanced side with a strong spine, swift and crafty forwards while their midfield is quality.
Last time, trailing by 12 points at three-quarter-time, they produced a big second half to hit the lead and push on to what was looking like a big win at the SCG.
If it wasn’t for some quick goals and heroics in the dying stages from the home side, the Bombers could have added another win to their impressive 12-10 tally in 2017.
Essendon aren’t without its selection dilemmas, with three key players needing a big final training session to convince coach John Worsefold – Cale Hooker, Orazio Fantasia and Michel Hurley.
Reports suggest Hooker will be the one to miss, given the key forward was on the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill as late as Wednesday, while the other two are right to go.
Regardless of whoever makes the trip, the Sydney Swans will need to at their best to win and progress through to the semi-finals.
