The Sydney Swans will face West Coast at GMHBA Stadium this Sunday afternoon (July 4) in their rescheduled Round 16 fixture.
Tom Hickey will face his former club for the first time and is “up for the fight” against opposition ruckman Nic Naitanui.
The 30-year-old has found his niche at his fourth club as a stoppage and clearance specialist, with former teammate Naitanui the only ruckman ahead of him for centre clearances and stoppage clearances.
Hickey knows first hand how dangerous the Eagles’ midfield is and he knows that he will need to nullify Naitanui’s influence.
“I have been able to see their midfield first hand and Nic Naitanui is a generational talent and probably at the moment, one of the most dominant players in the competition on his day. We are going to have our work cut out for us in the midfield and as a team,” Tom Hickey said on SEN’s Dwayne’s World earlier today (Friday, July 2).
“I know he is one of the top ruckman, I just have to try and nullify his input around the ground and give our midfield a chance to compete.
“When it comes to West Coast, all on their day, they are A-grade midfielders and Nic can hit it anywhere, so we are going to be under the pump in there but we are up for the fight.”
Hickey says the battle of the centre bounce will go a long way and he will have a big challenge this weekend.
“The centre bounce is very much a game of chess, you know each others strengths and each others weaknesses but it’s who can get the ascendency and what move you do from there.
“Because Nic was so athletic when he was young, he got figured out quite early in his career and had to adapt, and now he is probably one of the best, if not the best, at playing the game in the centre bounce.
“I think it adds another level of craft to the ruck position.”
In his eleventh season, Hickey is averaging career-highs for disposals, contested ball, clearances, inside 50s, one-percenters and says he is thoroughly enjoying his football.
“I have really enjoyed my footy this year and welcomed in with open arms at this footy club, and have been really embraced by the people around the footy club,” Hickey said.
“I am just loving my footy at the moment and running around with a smile on my face.
“I obviously had that PCL earlier in the year, and just starting to come through that now so it is just managing and finding what works midweek and how much I can do during the week to be right for games, but I feel like I am coming through the other side of it now.”
The match kicks off at 1:10pm AEST at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong and will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.
