Sydney Swans v Hawthorn Hawks: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Saturday night's AFL action

Mick Stirling

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Sydney Swans v Hawthorn Hawks: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Saturday night's AFL action image

PREVIEW OF SYDNEY SWANS V HAWTHORN HAWKS

How good are Sydney v Hawthorn games?

In the last four clashes between these two sides the biggest winning margin has been eight points, and this time around there’s a lot on the line with the victor guaranteed a top-four spot and a double chance in finals, while the loser heads into a sudden-death September.

And to add a little bit more spice, not only is the Swans’ best player a former Hawk, but the Hawks’ best player is a former Swan.

Oh my golly, this’ll be a ripper!

WHAT TIME IS THE GAME ON?

The ball is hitting the SCG turf at 7.25pm AEST.


HOW TO WATCH SATURDAY NIGHT’S AFL ACTION

The League got this one right when they locked in the round 23 fixture a month ago, putting the clash of the round in the premier time slot and making sure it’s on free-to-air television.

Channel Seven starts its coverage from 7pm, while Fox have it on Fox Sports (channel 503), also from 7pm.

CAN I WATCH IT OVERSEAS?

Those Hawthorn fans that thought they had a decade away from finals may find themselves in Disneyland come the first bounce, but it doesn’t matter if you’re looking at the LA, Paris or Tokyo version of Mickey Mouse, as long as there’s phone reception you can watch the game live through either AFL Live Pass or the Foxtel app.

Organise your overseas data roaming plan first though, or you’ll be paying a fortune for the pleasure, which won’t leave you anything to buy your Grand Final tickets with.

AND THE RADIO?

Yep, even the radio has apps. If you haven’t got one of the many available, such as Simple Radio, then download it now.


SYDNEY SWANS’ LIKELY LINEUP

B: 10 Zak Jones, 24 Dane Rampe, 44 Jake Lloyd

HB: 28 Nic Newman, 36 Aliir Aliir, 7 Harry Cunningham

C: 4 Dan Hannebery, 26 Luke Parker, 5 Isaac Heeney

HF: 29 George Hewett, 30 Tom McCartin, 27 Daniel Robinson

F: 9 Will Hayward, 23 Lance Franklin, 11 Tom Papley

R: 18 Callum Sinclair, 12 Josh P. Kennedy, 3 Jarred McVeigh

Int: 15 Kieren Jack, 13 Oliver Florent, 25 Ben Ronke, 42 Robbie Fox

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE SWANS?

A top-four spot and the double chance. This is a side we all thought were as good as done after being thumped by Essendon in round 19 in a horror run of four losses from five games, that included going down to Gold Coast at the SCG! But a last-minute win against Collingwood got them firing again, and no one wants to face an in-form Sydney side in September. If the Swans lose it’s not the end of the world as they can’t fall lower than sixth, so the worst-case scenario still has them hosting a home final.

KEY SYDNEY PLAYERS

It’s repetitive, but it’s Buddy. The former Hawk has kicked two bags of six goals in the Swans’ three-win streak and when he’s off the leash he’s impossible to stop. But no-one knows that like Alastair Clarkson. Franklin averages 2.3 goals against Hawthorn, his lowest average against any club. George Hewett could also be crucial if John Longmire chooses to tag ex-Swan Tom Mitchell.

HAWTHORN HAWKS’ LIKELY LINEUP

B: 15 Blake Hardwick, 12 James Frawley, 24 Ben Stratton

HB: 4 Jarman Impey, 30 Kaiden Brand, 42 Teia Miles

C: 35 Harry Morrison, 3 Tom Mitchell, 26 Liam Shiels

HF: 5 Ryan Burton, 25 Ryan Schoenmakers, 16 Isaac Smith

F: 22 Luke Breust, 19 Jack Gunston, 28 Paul Puopolo

R: 7 Ben McEvoy, 10 Jaeger O'Meara, 38 James Worpel

Int: 9 Shaun Burgoyne, 27 Marc Pittonet, 44 Conor Glass, 45 Conor Nash

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE HAWKS?

The equation for Hawthorn is similar to that facing Sydney: win and it’s top four, lose and it’s not. The upside is the Hawks can still finish top two and not only get the double chance, but do it from the MCG.

KEY HAWTHORN PLAYERS

Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Paul Puopolo make a very strong and hard-to-contain forward line that can come at you from all angles. It’s not just their skills, but also their experience that makes them so dangerous. Same thing goes for the Hawks in general, stacked with big-game experience on every line, but there’s a few youngsters in there who will need to step up to the plate.

LAST FOUR MEETINGS

Rd 8, 2018, Sydney Swans 12.7 (79) d Hawthorn Hawks 10.11 (71) at the MCG
Rd 19, 2017, Hawthorn Hawks 10.12 (72) d Sydney Swans 9.12 (66) at the MCG
Rd 10, 2017, Hawthorn Hawks 12.9 (81) d Sydney Swans 11.9 (75) at the SCG
Rd 17, 2016, Hawthorn Hawks 11.9 (75) d Sydney Swans 10.10 (70) at the SCG

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

Hawthorn has won three of the last four games between the teams, and six of the last seven in Sydney, yet start at $2.55 outsiders while the Swans are paying $1.52, suggesting that if you’re in the business of making money you might want to invest in a little bit of brown-and-gold gold.

Lance Franklin will be so keen to start the game with a quick goal against his former side that he’ll fluff it, but Ben Ronke will mop up and score the first major of the match, so put a dollar or two down at $14.00.

WHO WILL WIN?

I’ve got a feeling the Swans are going to throw too much at this game and they’ll mess it up. Meanwhile the Hawks have done a John Farnham, seemingly retiring then suddenly going back on tour. Like ‘Farnsey’ their song list is dull and their fans are out of touch with modern life, but the gigs just keep selling out.

Hawthorn by seven points.

Mick Stirling