Just under eight months ago, the Swans beat the Giants in a qualifying final classic at the SCG that went down as the greatest Sydney derby yet.
The game was a potential grand final dress rehearsal and lived up to its billing with heroics from Isaac Heeney in plucking a spectacular mark from the Sydney sky and a goal to help the Swans stage an unlikely final quarter comeback. Ahead of Sunday’s 30th Sydney derby times have changed. Both clubs are struggling to find form and know that a win can change their season.
Swans nursing injuries
When Giants player Harry Himmelberg was asked about the Swans’ injury crisis on Thursday, Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom grimaced at the question.
The Swans currently have 12 players on the injury list, including captain Callum Mills, but coach Dean Cox doesn’t believe it can be used as an excuse for their past three successive defeats.
“You saw last night with Essendon, they have injuries, and a lot of sides do, and how you deal with them is the sign of a really strong club,” Cox said.
“We’ve got to make sure that we get back to the players that do play. My messages all the way along to the players have been that there are 23 that go out and represent this footy club.
“You do it in the manner and the way that we normally should, and at times have let ourselves down in that area.”
Isaac Heeney’s spectacular mark in the last Sydney derbyCredit: AFL
Regardless of their outward stoicism, the Swans’ playing list is shorn of proven performers against the Giants. The forward line is particularly decimated, with Logan McDonald out long-term with a stress fracture of his fibula and two heroes from the qualifying final Joel Amartey and Tom Papley both missing Sunday’s clash due to injury.
The Swans ‘middle tier’ needs to step up
Last season, when the Swans needed inspiration to turn a game, the team could turn to Chad Warner, Heeney or Errol Gulden. Given Gulden is another long-term injury who is sorely missed for his ability to turn defence into attack, the Swans coaching staff are scrambling the magnets on the board to try and find new inspiration, often in the most unlikely spots.
It is often forgotten that a decade ago Aaron Francis was picked 6th in the draft, ahead of the likes of Carlton star Charlie Curnow. Since that night, Francis’ career has been largely spent toiling as an unheralded defender, but after scoring a career-high three goals against Port Adelaide in the forward line, Francis has the perfect opportunity to shine for the Swans.
Harry Himmelberg of the GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans James Rowbottom at the SCG ahead of the Sydney DerbyCredit: Dominic Lorrimer
The Swans are desperate for a goalscoring threat and the responsibility will fall largely on the shoulders of Will Hayward. After being asked does he need more from the talented forward this Sunday, Cox agreed but said Hayward is not alone.
“I think certainly, and that’s what I’ve said to the players, is it’s not the young ones or Riley Bice and the like or Corey Warner or Caiden Cleary that are going to turn around the way we play.
“It’s the middle tier of players that we need to perform at a level that they’ve played 80, 100 and 150 games. So they know the standard, they know how to get in form. They know what playing at their best looks like.”
A Giant chance to win at the SCG
For the majority of last season, the Swans provided Sydney’s best hope of a premiership contender, with the Giants not far behind them.
This year, despite two successive defeats to the Bulldogs and Adelaide, the Giants look an infinitely better prospect for September.
Although not facing anything like the Swans’ injury crisis, the Giants will still be without two of their best midfielders Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly in front of a sold-out SCG this Sunday.
The Giants have lost the past four Sydney derbies, including three times last season. According to Champion Data, the Giants’ hitouts differential has fallen from number one last season to 15th this season.
Connor Idun (left) exchanges words with Tom Papley during the last Sydney derbyCredit: Getty Images
Western Sydney product Kieran Briggs is out of form and has been moved to the bench with Jake Riccardi potentially providing a longer-term solution at ruck, starting with the challenge of competing against Swans star Brodie Grundy at stoppages.
After being asked what he thought of defender Sam Taylor’s comments last season that the Swans were smug and forward Toby Bedford’s vocal dislike of their crosstown rivals, coach Adam Kingsley said that he understood them perfectly.
“I agree with all of them, that’s a reality, that’s our thinking,” Kingsley said. “They beat us last year three times, and so we’ve got to do something about that. Sunday will be the perfect opportunity to make a start on that.”
