What to expect
Sydney will be looking to exact revenge after last year’s grand final loss as they take on the Hawks at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Swans kicked 10 second-half goals to two to overcome the Cats by 43 points in their Round 7 match at ANZ Stadium.
Coach John Longmire was pleased with the way his side was able to run away with the game after trailing by nine points at the main break.
“Geelong were able to score off a couple of things we did wrong, which is what good sides do,” Longmire said post-match.
“We need to make sure we tidy those up, but the effort and intensity from a few of our players in particular helped rub off on the others, and we were able to keep going and put the foot down in the second half and the 10 goal to two second half was fantastic.”
Longmire will be hoping his side can repeat their solid performance this week against the reigning premiers, who loom ominous after a dominant Round 7 display against Melbourne.
“They were too good for us last year and full credit to that football club so come 2015 we’ve got to make sure we do what we need to do this week,” Longmire told media on Monday.
“They’re a physical team but they’re also a highly skilled team.
“What we need to do doesn’t change as far as having to put pressure on the opposition, and we’ll need to do it obviously better than what we did last time against Hawthorn and that’s our challenge is to make sure that we pressure the opposition and cause turnovers and give ourselves a chance to score.”
Players to watch
Luke Parker has propelled himself into the category of elite midfielders after an impressive season and recent five goal, 31-disposal performance against the Cats.
Longmire was full of praise for the 22 year old after the game.
“It was one of the real quality games of football I’ve seen from a young kid,” he said.
“His intensity and hit around the contest, his tackles, his fierceness at the ball, just oozes out of him and he was then able to finish his work off by kicking goals.”
Fellow midfielders Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Tom Mitchell were also prolific in the win against Geelong, with the trio all gathering 30-plus disposals.
Lance Franklin also remains as big a threat as ever, with the former Hawk booting four goals against the Cats to take his tally to 20 for the season.
Potential changes
Jake Lloyd was subbed out of the game against Geelong with an ankle complaint, and remains a test to be available for the Swans’ clash with Hawthorn.
His replacement, Dean Towers, will have to fight to hold his place in the side after managing only two kicks and three handballs.
Meanwhile Craig Bird was named as the Swans’ best in the NEAFL and is well and truly in the frame for a return to the senior side after collecting 32 disposals.
