The intense Sydney Derby rivalry headlines the latest edition of Hot Topics as the Swans get set for Saturday’s elimination final against the Giants at the SCG.

A young but fierce rivalry 
GWS entered the competition in 2012 and the two Sydney clubs are already set for a second finals showdown, a telling indication of how quickly the cross-town rivalry has grown. Adelaide and Port Adelaide have met in September just once and West Coast and Fremantle never have, while neither Brisbane nor Gold Coast have played finals football since the Suns joined the AFL in 2011. The Swans beat the Giants in eight of the first nine Sydney Derby battles but GWS has since rallied, claiming four of the 15 cross-town match-ups in history. Sydney trailed GWS by two goals at the final change when the sides last met in Round 22, before the Swans stormed home in a six-goal-to-one last term to grab a 20-point win.

Key match-ups all over the ground
Saturday’s clash presents a smorgasbord of highly anticipated match-ups. Lance Franklin and Phil Davis will resume hostilities, Dane Rampe will meet Jeremy Cameron and two star-studded midfields are set to collide. Sydney captain Josh Kennedy will lead a midfield boasting Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery, Isaac Heeney, George Hewett and a number of other Swans, while the likes of gun Giants Callan Ward, Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio await. The Franklin-Davis clash looms particularly large, with eight-time All-Australian Franklin booting five goals to inspire the Swans to victory over the Giants in Round 22.

Stars return
Both the Swans and Giants are expected to welcome back a host of top-end talent. Franklin and Parker will slot back in for the Swans if they get through Thursday’s main training session, while dangerous small forward Toby Greene and experienced duo Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen headline those in the frame for GWS. Franklin’s five goals earned him the Brett Kirk Medal for best on ground against the Giants in Round 22, but Parker was in sublime touch himself, raking in a game-high 33 possessions and kicking two goals. Kennedy said on Monday their performances in that contest were clear signs Franklin and Parker would give the Swans a big boost in the elimination final.

Sydney’s growing finals record
The Swans will peel back the curtains for a ninth-straight finals campaign, the longest current finals streak competition-wide. Sydney hasn’t fallen short of September since 2009 and is set to play a part in a 16^th finals series in 18 years. Coach John Longmire spoke of his pride of the Swans’ impressive finals record last week, saying he’s rapt to be leading a “fierce, competitive group that wants to give themselves every chance every year”. 

Macca eyes record books
Sydney’s sole triple centurion, 318-game stalwart Jarrad McVeigh, will join Adam Goodes in equal first on the all-time Swans leaderboard for most finals matches. McVeigh played his first finals game in 2004 and on Saturday will run out for his 28^th. The 33-year-old will also move into the top 10 in VFL/AFL history, matching Goodes, Jason Akermanis, Gary Ayres, Jimmy Bartel, Bill Hutchison and Chris Mew. McVeigh last week signed a one-year contract extension to tie himself to the Swans until at least the end of 2019.