Sydney Swans v GWS Giants
Sunday, July 18. 6:10pm
Metricon Stadium

TEAM: No change

The Sydney Swans have named an unchanged team to face the GWS Giants in Sydney Derby XXI on Sunday evening.

The Swans have recorded impressive back-to-back victories in the last fortnight with a 92-point win over West Coast in Round 16 and a 19-point win against the Western Bulldogs last week in Round 17.

This week provides another challenge, against cross-town rivals, the GWS GIANTS.

The match, a GWS GIANTS home game, was originally scheduled to be played in NSW, before two relocation changes. Scheduled to be played at Mars Stadium, Ballarat earlier in the week, the match has now been relocated to Metricon Stadium out of caution to the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Victoria.

"It's been a whirlwind 24 hours," Longmire said.

"I got a phone call on Tuesday night that said we needed to be in the hotel lobby at 6am the next morning because we are going to Queensland so trying to organise a squad of 43-players and our staff at late notice was a bit of a challenge but we managed to get that done."

Longmire said it has been very special and valuable to see strong Swans support across the country over the last few weeks, in particular during their stay in Victoria and expects the Swans Queensland supporters to be out in force for the Derby.

"Ideally we would be at home with our family and loved ones in front of our Sydney supporters, but the benefit of being down in Victoria is that we have been able to connect with a lot of people that missed a lot of footy last year." Longmire said.

"To be able to play some games in front of them, and feel their support come through, was really special for the footy club. Whilst we are not playing there, we still understand their support is really strong all over the country, and it's so important for us as a team, when we have challenges on the road and away from our families, to be able to understand our supporters and members are right behind us and that means a lot to us"

Sunday's Round 18 match will be the 21st edition of the Sydney Derby with the teams to play for the Sydney Derby Cup, with the player judged best on ground awarded the Brett Kirk Medal.

"It went down to the last minute last time. We did a bit right but we didn't get the last minute right at all so we need to make sure we deal with that a bit better," Longmire said.

"But we understand each other, we play each other a lot. They have some great players and are going through some similar challenges to what we are going through but we are looking forward to that game."

The match will be broadcast live on the Seven Network into New South Wales and the ACT and nationally on Foxtel and Kayo.

Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants, Round 18 - Metricon Stadium