The Swans have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and are plotting a return to form against the plucky Kangaroos.
Sydney (13-3, 140.8%) has hit an unexpected lull in form but will be heavy favourites at the SCG.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne (2-14, 66.1%) moved off the bottom of the ladder last Saturday after a thrilling win over Gold Coast, bringing a rare vein of form to the Harbour City as it aims to challenge the ladder-leaders.
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In a blow to John Longmire’s side, once-Brownlow Medal favourite Isaac Heeney is unavailable as he serves his one-game suspension for striking Jimmy Webster last Sunday.
However, his replacement is more than capable to fill his boots, with skipper Callum Mills returning for his first game of the year after recovering from respective shoulder and calf injuries.
At Arden Street, burgeoning ball-winner George Wardlaw exited concussion protocols and was inserted into the starting 22 at selection, with tagger Will Phillips omitted.
The Swans have claimed seven consecutive victories over the Kangaroos, who last defeated Sydney in Round 7, 2018 at the SCG. Since then, the sides have met just once at the venue.
The match gets underway at 1:45pm from the SCG.
Watch it live on Fox Sports 503, streaming on Kayo or via Hubbl from 1:30pm.
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In a late surprise, Luke Parker has been included and will make his senior return as the substitute, coming in for Sam Wicks.
The Roos didn’t make any late changes, naming Curtis Taylor their sub.
Callum Mills, playing his first game of the season, received a cheer from the Bloods faithful upon receiving his first possession.
After appearing to limp, Tom Papley got on the end of a pass inside-50 before wheeling around and slamming home Sydney’s first goal of the afternoon from long range.
Some nice transition movement from the Roos resulted in a tidy goal to get the visitors on the board. It’s been a positive start for Alastair Clarkson’s men.
“You’d be more pleased if you were North Melbourne, at the moment,” Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton told Fox Footy’s coverage.
Wardlaw has been influential thus far in his return, notching eight first-quarter disposals and three inside-50s.
Pink kicked his second major, but the Swans edged in front by quarter-time after a mark and goal by Logan McDonald.
Fox Footy caller Leigh Montagna said at the first change: “It’s the Swans who lead, but North Melbourne are up for the fight.”
To start the second term, Tom Papley kicked two in a minute to establish a sudden 14-point lead.
Nick Larkey missed a pair of gilt-edged opportunities to close the gap halfway through the stanza. Montagna said: “Very rarely do you see Larkey miss two in a row … That’s a real let-off.”
After a beautiful pass inside 50 from Papley, James Jordon capitalised with Sydney’s third goal to open up a 19-point lead.
The Swans are running all over the Roos now, with their end-to-end movement proving overwhelming for the visitors. It’s a 28-point lead and building.
“They’ve put the foot down, and the Kangaroos can’t go with them,” Montagna said after Chad Warner made it a 34-point game with a set shot major.
Two goals in a minute for Chad Warner and the Swans have kicked six unanswered in the second term! It’s now 41 points the difference.
Warner is currently “doing as he pleases”, notching 12 disposals, eight score involvements and two goals in the second period alone.
It was seven goals to one in the second quarter as the Swans took a commanding 42-point buffer into the main change.
North’s Nick Larkey had the first say of the second half, converting his set shot from directly in front from 40 metres out.
Joel Amartey replied straight away though, turning Roos defender Aidan Corr inside out at the top of the goal square to kick his first major after two behinds.
Cameron Zurhaar and Hayden McLean also kicked their first for the afternoon in the following minutes.
In a heartwarming moment, Luke Parker was given a loud round of applause, as he was injected into the game for Justin McInerney – subbed out with a left leg/knee problem.
McDonald slotted his fourth for the afternoon halfway through the third quarter, and is now just one goal away from an equal-career high five goals.
Cam Zurhaar kicked his second for the day, before the Swans finished with a flurry – converting three goals late to put the Kangaroos to the sword.
And the best of the three goals was undoubtedly Parker’s, who slotted home his 200th career goal in style to get the SCG crowd right back on their feet.
At three-quarter time, the scorecard read: Sydney 16.14 (110) leading North Melbourne 7.5 (47) – a 63-point lead.
Chad Warner ended the term with a total tally of 25 disposals, 14 score involvements and 2.3 in a humungous performance.
Much like Parker, skipper Callum Mills kicked his first goal of 2024 in another moment for the highlights reel.
Amartey doubled his tally for the game too, snapping truly from a set shot with 14 minutes to play.
Papley kicked his fourth for the afternoon to extend Sydney’s lead out to 87 points, in what has very quickly become a bloodbath.
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