MATCH PREVIEW: GIANTS v Sydney

NEAFL ROUND 1

Saturday, April 6, 2019

GIANTS v Sydney Swans

GIANTS Stadium, 12:55pm

SUMMARY

The GIANTS and Sydney Swans will go head-to-head in the first curtain raiser of the season on Saturday afternoon at GIANTS Stadium in what should be a quality Round 1 contest.

The Swans will begin the 2019 NEAFL season with some unfinished business as they were placed second on the ladder in 2018.

Rubbing salt into their wounds, the Swans’ fifth NEAFL grand final appearance in 2018 was also their fifth Grand Final loss.

Meanwhile, the GIANTS will be eager to start their season with the same great form on show early last year, before injuries derailed their season and the club missed finals for the second consecutive season.

Both these sides will sit evenly when it comes to the number of AFL-listed players expected to take to the field, turning this in to arguably the match-of-the-round as two rivals fight for early bragging rights.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 20, 2018: Sydney 15.18 (108) d GIANTS 7.12 (52) at GIANTS Stadium.

Round 14, 2018: Sydney 10.15 (75) d GIANTS 4.5 (29) at North Dalton Park.

Round 6, 2018: Sydney 10.13 (73) d GIANTS 5.12 (42) at GIANTS Stadium.

TALKING POINTS

1. The Sydney Swans were victorious against the GIANTS last Saturday in a NEAFL practice match at Tom Wills Oval, winning 11.13 (79) to 5.6 (36) in wet conditions. It was the Swans second practice match win out of three, meaning the GIANTS only won one practice match out of their three trials. However, when premiership points are up for grabs it’s a different ball game altogether.

2. The battle between Dawson Simpson and Darcy Cameron will be a treat to watch on Saturday. Simpson dominated the NEAFL in 2017 with an average of 48.4 hit-outs per game, and 14.4 to advantage, to be named as ruck in the NEAFL Team of the Year. Cameron, meanwhile, had a similar season last year to not only earn Team of the Year honours, but finish runner-up in the NEAFL MVP Award and averaging a whopping 153 Champion Data ranking points per game.

3. These two sides also battled in Round 1 last year and produced a thriller, with the GIANTS beating the Swans by for points at the SCG. It was an unusually slow start to the year from Sydney, which at one stage were 0-4 before their first win of the season in Round 6 – which coincidentally came against the GIANTS. These two clubs love to play against each other, and you get the feeling Saturday’s clash will be another one to remember.

ROOKIE WATCH

The Sydney Swan’s newest recruits have impressed throughout the pre-season at trial matches, especially James Rowbottom. The 18-year-old midfielder was recruited from the Oakleigh Charges via the second round selection at the 2018 AFL Draft. Rowbottom is well-known for good stoppages, strong endurance and reading the play exceptionally well. He’ll be keen to get off on the right foot with a strong performance on Saturday.

STATS THAT MATTER

Sydney doesn’t mind a trip to the GIANTS’ home venue at Sydney Showground. The Swans lead the overall win-loss record against the GIANTS 8-6. Sydney hasn’t lost there since 2016.

PREDICTION

Sydney Swans by 15 points.