Round 22: GWS Giants v Sydney Swans
When: Saturday, August 18, 4:45 PM
Where: Spotless Stadium
Swans have a 3-1 record at Spotless with the only loss back in 2014. I’ve blocked the whole of 2014 out. That season never happened.
Weather: Warmer than Melbourne
Battle of the Bridge - Number 15.
Giants need the win to secure a top 4 spot while the Swans need to win to keep the top 8 chances alive. This will be biggest clash since 2016 finals between these teams.
CURRENT FORM
Giants have only lost once since May and that was too the Eagles in Perth (only really good teams win there). The media darlings the Tigers and the Hawks have taken the limelight, but the Giants are genuine premiership contender. They have won at home and away against top 8 and the rest. It’s like they deserve to be third on the ladder with a percentage of 120.4.
Sydney with the season faltering have managed to grab a couple of wins against the Pies and Demons to take control of their own destiny in the last two weeks. The Swans played with free-flowing ball movement last week which has not been seen for some time. With an 8-2 away record this year the Swans like to travel. This will be the shortest distance travelled but take the longest time to get there.
INJURIES
GWS GIANTS
Jon Patton (knee) — season
Tom Scully (ankle) — season
Will Setterfield (knee) — season
Lachie Tiziani (knee) — season
Zac Williams (Achilles) — TBC
Aiden Corr (groin) — 1 week
Brett Deledio (calf) — TBC
Sam Taylor (hamstring) — 2 weeks
Dawson Simpson (ankle) — 7 weeks
Toby Greene (hamstring) — 2 weeks
Nick Shipley (ankle) — 6 weeks
Heath Shaw (knee) — Season
Sam Reid (hamstring) — TBC
Matt de Boer (hamstring) — TBC
Josh Kelly - TBC
SYDNEY SWANS
Matthew Ling (toe) — season
Lewis Melican (hamstring) — 4 weeks
Callum Mills (broken foot) — season
Sam Naismith (knee) — season
Sam Reid (Achilles) — 2 weeks
Gary Rohan (hand) — test
Jack Maibaum (knee) — 3 weeks
Harry Marsh (hamstring) — 1 week
Alex Johnson (knee) — season
Nick Smith (back) — 6 weeks
Kurt Tippet – Forever and ever
Giants win the injury list. A big out for them is Greene which is fortunate for us given Smith is also missing. Sadly, both Sam Reid’s are injured, it’s like the Reid name is cursed.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Sinclair v Lobb
Both performed well last week against more seasoned rucks. Sinclair nullified Gawn around the ground. Lobb racked up a large number of hit outs to advantage over Jacobs. Should be an even contest given both are more forward/ruck than genuine rucks.
Kennedy vs Ward
Two captains who carry their midfields each week. Not sure they will play on each other but it is captain vs captain.
Franklin v Davis
Phil Davis will wear Franklin like a glove which is ok if your defender. They always have a good contest and this should be no different. Franklin should kick a coupe at the least.
Rampe vs Cameron
Cameron has played well against us in the past and Rampe will be tested. Rampe will need support from others in defence at times.
In
Grundy / Jones
Out
Smith / Johnson
I have no idea who the Giants bring in given their injury list.
Coaches
Cameron was banned from the coaches’ box by his assistants after round 10 and has had to sit on the bench. Since then the Giants have won 9 and lost 1. Who ever is coaching the Giants from the coaches’ box is doing a good job. Not sure if Longmire knows where the bench is.
Giants like to play on and move the ball through the corridor while the Swans like to defend for long periods and beat their opponent on the rebound.
Two opposing styles but with the Giants injuries mounting they may not have that usual run with Shaw and possibly Kelly out. Our defence is regularly tested this year and given the midfield woes at times they will work overtime this week. Giants still have a decent forward line and they may kick a little straighter than the Dees. Our forward line can be guilty of relying on Franklin not only to kick the goals but also for him to set up other goals. However, with Papley finding form and Ronke, Hayward we should offer the Giants defenders some problems.
Prediction:
Two weeks ago I would have said we had no chance, but the Giants have lost 7 players to injury in the last two weeks. Swans have more to play for given the finals are no guarantee.
Swans by 13.
When: Saturday, August 18, 4:45 PM
Where: Spotless Stadium
Swans have a 3-1 record at Spotless with the only loss back in 2014. I’ve blocked the whole of 2014 out. That season never happened.
Weather: Warmer than Melbourne
Battle of the Bridge - Number 15.
Giants need the win to secure a top 4 spot while the Swans need to win to keep the top 8 chances alive. This will be biggest clash since 2016 finals between these teams.
CURRENT FORM
Giants have only lost once since May and that was too the Eagles in Perth (only really good teams win there). The media darlings the Tigers and the Hawks have taken the limelight, but the Giants are genuine premiership contender. They have won at home and away against top 8 and the rest. It’s like they deserve to be third on the ladder with a percentage of 120.4.
Sydney with the season faltering have managed to grab a couple of wins against the Pies and Demons to take control of their own destiny in the last two weeks. The Swans played with free-flowing ball movement last week which has not been seen for some time. With an 8-2 away record this year the Swans like to travel. This will be the shortest distance travelled but take the longest time to get there.
INJURIES
GWS GIANTS
Jon Patton (knee) — season
Tom Scully (ankle) — season
Will Setterfield (knee) — season
Lachie Tiziani (knee) — season
Zac Williams (Achilles) — TBC
Aiden Corr (groin) — 1 week
Brett Deledio (calf) — TBC
Sam Taylor (hamstring) — 2 weeks
Dawson Simpson (ankle) — 7 weeks
Toby Greene (hamstring) — 2 weeks
Nick Shipley (ankle) — 6 weeks
Heath Shaw (knee) — Season
Sam Reid (hamstring) — TBC
Matt de Boer (hamstring) — TBC
Josh Kelly - TBC
SYDNEY SWANS
Matthew Ling (toe) — season
Lewis Melican (hamstring) — 4 weeks
Callum Mills (broken foot) — season
Sam Naismith (knee) — season
Sam Reid (Achilles) — 2 weeks
Gary Rohan (hand) — test
Jack Maibaum (knee) — 3 weeks
Harry Marsh (hamstring) — 1 week
Alex Johnson (knee) — season
Nick Smith (back) — 6 weeks
Kurt Tippet – Forever and ever
Giants win the injury list. A big out for them is Greene which is fortunate for us given Smith is also missing. Sadly, both Sam Reid’s are injured, it’s like the Reid name is cursed.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Sinclair v Lobb
Both performed well last week against more seasoned rucks. Sinclair nullified Gawn around the ground. Lobb racked up a large number of hit outs to advantage over Jacobs. Should be an even contest given both are more forward/ruck than genuine rucks.
Kennedy vs Ward
Two captains who carry their midfields each week. Not sure they will play on each other but it is captain vs captain.
Franklin v Davis
Phil Davis will wear Franklin like a glove which is ok if your defender. They always have a good contest and this should be no different. Franklin should kick a coupe at the least.
Rampe vs Cameron
Cameron has played well against us in the past and Rampe will be tested. Rampe will need support from others in defence at times.
In
Grundy / Jones
Out
Smith / Johnson
I have no idea who the Giants bring in given their injury list.
Coaches
Cameron was banned from the coaches’ box by his assistants after round 10 and has had to sit on the bench. Since then the Giants have won 9 and lost 1. Who ever is coaching the Giants from the coaches’ box is doing a good job. Not sure if Longmire knows where the bench is.
Giants like to play on and move the ball through the corridor while the Swans like to defend for long periods and beat their opponent on the rebound.
Two opposing styles but with the Giants injuries mounting they may not have that usual run with Shaw and possibly Kelly out. Our defence is regularly tested this year and given the midfield woes at times they will work overtime this week. Giants still have a decent forward line and they may kick a little straighter than the Dees. Our forward line can be guilty of relying on Franklin not only to kick the goals but also for him to set up other goals. However, with Papley finding form and Ronke, Hayward we should offer the Giants defenders some problems.
Prediction:
Two weeks ago I would have said we had no chance, but the Giants have lost 7 players to injury in the last two weeks. Swans have more to play for given the finals are no guarantee.
Swans by 13.
