Why Swans and Giants face season-defining Sydney derby

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.

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.

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.”