Presenting all you need to know about the Swans ahead of Saturday's very important clash at the SCG:
Form
The Swans started the season with an impressive win over West Coast at Optus Stadium, and they were very consistent performers in the following three months.
They were second on the ladder with a 10-3 record following their bye in round 14, but they have lost their mojo since then, losing four of their past five games and sliding out of the top eight. They were thrashed by Essendon at Etihad Stadium last weekend.
What they're saying
The Swans published the following story on their website on Tuesday:
The Sydney Swans could regain an experienced trio for Saturday night’s crucial clash with Collingwood at the SCG.
Kieren Jack (knee), Jarrad McVeigh (collarbone) and Dan Hannebery (calf) are all in line to return from injury to take on the Magpies.
Head of Football Tom Harley said Jack was expected to put his hand up to play on Saturday night.
“We are really hopeful that Kieren will get up to play this week,” Harley said. “He has now had the two weeks out with a medial ligament strain but has trained strongly through the back end of last week and the weekend.
“Our main training session is on Thursday and we are fully expecting him to get through that and be available for selection.”
Harley said McVeigh was also in the frame after showing strong form in his recovery.
“Jarrad is certainly pushing his case this week,” Harley said. “He pushed hard last week but the collarbone wasn’t in the position to stand up to the rigours of AFL footy.
“He will train again on Thursday and we will make a call on that.
“Certainly Jarrad is confident and feeling more and more comfortable so it would be great to have him back.”
Player to watch
Aliir Aliir has been a revelation down back since returning to the Swans' line-up in round 13. Aliir was one of few Swans players to be at their best against Essendon last weekend, finishing the game with 12 disposals and nine marks.
Aliir Aliir in action against the Bombers last weekend (AFL Photos)
Last time: Round 3, 2017 at the SCG
AFL.com.au match report excerpt: The blowtorch being applied to Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has been doused - momentarily at least - with his Magpies opening their season’s account with an astonishing one-point win over Sydney at the SCG.
Facing their first 0-3 start since 1999, Collingwood looked to have relented when the Swans hit the lead in the 20th minute of the final term for the first time in the match.
However, a magnificent set-shot goal from the pocket by Will Hoskin-Elliott put the Magpies up again and they stretched their lead to seven points with two behinds, before second-game player Nic Newman scored a goal to make it the solitary point again.
In a frantic final confrontation, the Magpies held on to secure a pressure-relieving win in front of a breathless crowd of 35,310.
“You can’t get anything from the first two weeks back, but it’s a lot better feeling when you’re on this side of the ledger. We had to fight pretty hard for it,” Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.
“Once again tonight we had some periods of dominance, as we had through the first couple of weeks. It’ll be our job to make sure that we’re more consistent in the application of that.
“[The belief] has been there. We worked really hard through pre-season, but it was important for us to open the ledger on the season. We put ourselves in a little bit of a hole the first couple of weeks. So, to be able to get that results, as narrow as it was, it’s a positive one for us.”
The Magpies’ triumph ruined Lance Franklin’s 250th match celebrations - the superstar forward went goalless, too - and leaves the Swans winless from their first three matches of 2017.
SYDNEY 1.1 5.7 7.11 11.13 (79)
COLLINGWOOD 4.4 7.4 9.8 11.14 (80)
GOALS
Sydney: Hayward 3, Jack 2, Fox, Hannebery, Kennedy, S. Reid, Florent, Newman
Collingwood: Fasolo 4, Varcoe 2, Crisp, White, Greenwood, Treloar, Hoskin-Elliott
BEST
Sydney: Hannebery, Lloyd, Jones, Kennedy, Mills, Marsh
Collingwood: Adams, Grundy, Sidebottom, Fasolo, Treloar, Crisp
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, Hay
Official crowd: 35,310 at the SCG
Cheersquad leader Joffa Corfe embraces Will Hoskin-Elliott after the Pies' win over the Swans last season (AFL Photos)
