Preview Round 8 2024 – Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants, Saturday May 4, 1.45pm AEST, SCG

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Danny88 said:
Supposed to rain a fair bit on Saturday

I think that advantages them more than us due to the added importance of clearance
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7news tonight forecasting 40mm of rain for Saturday. Will be a big shame if it pans out that way. 2 in-form teams that move the ball quickly and cleanly would be a great watch in dry conditions.
 

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Big Stinky Monk said:
7news tonight forecasting 40mm of rain for Saturday. Will be a big shame if it pans out that way. 2 in-form teams that move the ball quickly and cleanly would be a great watch in dry conditions.
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Hopefully we get a lull in the rain for a number of hours in for the duration of the game. 🤞

Forecast models flip flopping on amounts during the game. Will hopefully get a better idea closer to..
 
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Given the universal rave reviews that Darcy got, I sincerely hope that Kingsley selects him for the South Melbourne match this Saturday. I know there will be a lot of hard selection decisions to be made, but a debut performance like Darcy’s needs to be rewarded, and I get the impression that Darcy will perform well under the derby pressure. It was a privilege to watch his debut.

Darcy Jones is about to become a household name​

Electric. Composed. Classy. They are three of the words Giants coach Adam Kingsley used to describe exciting youngster Darcy Jones after he lit up Manuka Oval in a debut to remember. With pace, skill and a befitting charcoal and orange helmet to boot, Jones kicked two slick goals and provided plenty of run and carry as the famed Orange Tsunami tore Brisbane apart in the 54-point win. Missing bonafide stars Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor, Jones was among a host of young guns, including Tom Green, Finn Callaghan, Callum Brown and Harvey Thomas, who stood up in the statement win. It's been a rough start to AFL life for the 20-year-old after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his first appearance in the VFL last year, before swelling in his knee and a severe bout of tonsillitis set back the start of his 2024 season, but there looks to be a big, big future ahead for the Giants' newest cult hero. – Alison O'Connor

www.afl.com.au

Nine things we learned: The Pies must shake off their early rust

Richmond just needs a little polish, a son of a gun has found his feet plus more round seven lessons
www.afl.com.au www.afl.com.au
 
The selection headache for this week is real, with the predicted wet weather adding an extra layer of complication. If they're all fit, Taylor, Coniglio and Daniels are walk-up starters along with Greene. So that means we are likely to see at least four changes to the starting 22 from last week.

The only obvious like-for-like swap is Taylor for Aleer.

Naturally, you'd suggest Greene and Daniels come in for two small/medium forwards but who do you leave out? Thomas has been good, Jones had a cracking debut and Bedford brings consistent pressure and energy even if he's not as damaging at hitting the scoreboard.

Who goes out for Coniglio? The like-for-like possibilities are Ward and O'Halloran but both of those bring a harder edge than some of our other mids and that bullishness is even more important in wet conditions. A few weeks ago Peatling would be another obvious contender to go out but he's shown some real spark and toughness playing in the midfield which is great. Wehr is also an option to go out but he seems to be a favourite of Kingsley's and is playing that specialist wing role pretty well. Does the wet weather also mean we go in with one less tall?

After all that I'm not sure I'm any closer to knowing how the final 23 will land. :D
 
'They're a bit smug': GWS star lights fuse ahead of derby

"I do respect them, they're a great team with great players. I respect how their players go about it but there is a lot of dislike. Once we get on the field, we want to beat them and want to smack them and come away with the win," Taylor said.

"They're young and firing, they're a bit smug, it comes from that as well.

"They're chirpy on the field. It's fun to play against them, I can't wait to play them."
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Of more interest is Sam saying that he should be good to play on Saturday.
As for Taylor's return to the team for the derby from the serious concussion he suffered in Canberra, he says that's well and truly on track.


"I'm close. I need to get through training Tuesday and Thursday and do some tackling and contest stuff but I'm feeling great and ready to go," he said.

"I'm symptom free, everything's gone. I didn't have any headaches, that was good. It was just a bit of dizziness early on but I'm back to normal which is great."
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Also had some interesting stuff to say about the medical staff and their decision making:
The All-Australian full-back says he initially pleaded with the Giants doctor to return for last Thursday night's game against Brisbane but ultimately agreed the best decision was made to let him rest for another week after a heavy collision that he admits was scary for him to experience.
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Media battle warming up ahead of the game:


In-form midfielder Chad Warner says Sydney will relish a battle between two of the AFL's best-performing engine rooms in what shapes as a spicy derby clash with Greater Western Sydney. Both sides take a 6-1 record into Saturday's meeting at the SCG, with Brownlow Medal favourite Isaac Heeney and Giants gun Tom Green headlining the opposing star-studded on-ball divisions.

"They'd be one of the best midfield units in the competition and we've got to put a lot of work into Tom Green," Warner told AAP. "But they're the same as us, with boys who can do damage on the outside too. Derbies are always fun against them and they'll give it a red-hot crack, which is exactly what we want."

"Isaac's form speaks for itself at the moment, and it's his ability to do damage up forward as well that makes him so hard to stop," Warner said. "His one-on-one stoppage craft is just out of this world. He's just so strong. And the amount of numbers we have going through the midfield now is really good for us too. The thing that's best about our midfield at the moment is the balance we have. Heeney can read the ball better than anyone, then we've got (James) Rowbottom's pressure and Errol (Gulden) who can do the damage on the outside. That's what is holding us in good stead."

The Swans lead the head-to-head record 16-10 in a match-up that has built a strong tradition over 13 years since the Giants entered the AFL. "You always want to play in those games that have got a bit of rivalry about them," Warner said. "It's starting to trend that way a lot more and it's great for NSW footy with both our teams playing well."
 
Giant Strides said:
Media battle warming up ahead of the game
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Definitely a media battle.

Also, the below story is on the front webpage of the SMH.

www.smh.com.au

‘There is a lot of dislike’: Giants defender takes swipe at ‘smug, chirpy’ Swans

Sam Taylor says he respects the Sydney Swans, who he reckons are the best team in the AFL this season – but that doesn’t mean he likes them.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au


‘There is a lot of dislike’: Giants defender takes swipe at ‘smug, chirpy’ Swans

By Vince Rugari

April 29, 2024 — 3.45pm

Sam Taylor has fired the first shots ahead of Saturday’s derby at the SCG, accusing Sydney Swans players of being “smug” and hinting at retribution to come for the perceived over-celebration of goals during a pre-season practice match two months ago.

The star Giants defender is expected to be one of three big-name inclusions, along with skipper Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio, for this weekend’s 27th edition of the Sydney derby, having missed their last two games due to concussion.

The comments by the usually mild-mannered Taylor are a sign of the rivalry’s maturity and of the growing levels of tension between two sets of players who rarely mix socially and seemingly don’t have much time for each other.

Never before have the Swans and Giants met with both teams sitting so high on the AFL ladder; indeed, Taylor described Sydney as the competition’s best team, before following up that compliment with a couple of jabs about their history and their recent on-field conduct.

The Giants have won only one of the last four derbies but, as the 24-year-old reminded reporters on Monday, have prevailed all three times they have played off in the finals.

“[The rivalry] keeps building and building, and now that we’re second and third [on the ladder] at the moment ... there’s a lot in it,” Taylor said.

“I think they’re probably the benchmark at the moment. The way they play is very, very tough to play against. I’m very keen to play them. I do respect them, they’re a great team. They have great players and I respect how the players go about it.

“But there is a lot of dislike and once we get on the field, we want to beat them, we want to smack them and come home with the win.”

Pressed on where that dislike came from, Taylor suggested Giants players had stowed away memories of exuberant celebrations from some Swans players during a match simulation at Tramway Oval, next to the SCG, in February. Sydney were victorious on that day by 26 points and the in-form Logan McDonald, who is likely to be Taylor’s direct opponent on Saturday afternoon, booted four goals.

Ironically it was the Swans who used to accuse the Giants of having too much to say in the heat of battle – but now the tables have turned.

‘There is a lot of dislike … they’re young, they’re firing, they’re a bit smug. They’re chirpy on the field.’

Sam Taylor on the Swans
“That was chirpy, just for a practice game,” he said. “They’re young, they’re firing, they’re a bit smug. It comes from a bit of that as well. They’re chirpy on the field. It’s fun to play against them, when a team’s chirpy, up and about, winning games. It’s exciting, and I can’t wait to play them.”

A big crowd is expected at the SCG for the derby, which could challenge the non-finals record of 37,045 for this fixture at the Moore Park venue.

Taylor stopped short of declaring himself a certain starter, saying he would need to get through contact training on Tuesday and Thursday to confirm his return, which will likely come at the expense of his housemate Leek Aleer.

The off-contract defender has not played since he was involved in a sickening head clash with Jack Steele which caused a nine-minute delay early in GWS’s thrilling one-point win over St Kilda. The collision left Taylor bleeding from the mouth and was deemed to be so visually troubling that broadcasters refused to show any replays, but he insisted it looked much worse on TV than it actually was.

“I have seen it back a few times … the double-hit into the chin, into the ground, it did a bit of work,” he said.

“I remember the first 10 minutes [of the game] but the actual incident, I don’t remember. And then I don’t remember much after for the next, like, 30 minutes … but once I got to hospital, everything from then, I remember.

“I’m symptom-free. Everything’s gone. I never had any headaches, it was just a bit of dizziness early on. I’ll definitely be more careful with my head. I won’t charge in head-first and keep my chin open, I’ll try to protect myself a bit more … but I want to win, I want to compete as hard as I can, and that won’t change.”

The Swans, like the Giants, face some selection quandaries at their match committee meeting this week, with former co-captain Luke Parker fit and available after sealing his recovery from a broken arm with a dominant display in the VFL.

To include him, coach John Longmire will need to find room in a team that thrashed Hawthorn by 76 points on Sunday, while defender Dane Rampe could also be an outside chance of returning from a hamstring injury.
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A big crowd is expected at the SCG for the derby, which could challenge the non-finals record of 37,045 for this fixture at the Moore Park venue.
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed the crowd record is broken, it's good for footy! :)
 
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Shame the weather forecast is for heavy rain, hoping it clears early for the track to dry it up. This will suit them much more due to their contested/clearance game. Our has been poor the last few weeks and our mids need to improve (Cogs should help). Also a heavy track wont suit the tsunami.
It's going to be tough and physical, both teams hate each other.

I don't think Ward or XOH will come out of the side based in the conditions and toughness required for this game.

On SM-A546E using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Gadzorks said:
Shame about the forecast rain - would love to see this battle on a fast deck.

How do we normally play in the wet?

Is selection for weather a real thing in this club?
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In jones, Bedford, Daniels and Thomas we have 4 fast, skilled smalls who would have a combined weight just over 200kg

Personally I don’t think we can carry all of them in the wet
 
Gadzorks said:
Shame about the forecast rain - would love to see this battle on a fast deck.

How do we normally play in the wet?

Is selection for weather a real thing in this club?
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Mixed results in the wet. We don't tend to make team changes just to suit wet conditions. In fact, last year we went taller in one game which was forecast to be wet, which seemed odd. Not really sure how the MC will jump, given the good result against Brisbane and players to come back in. Honestly, I would expect that we'll go with a standard-looking side.
 
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