Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 22 game of the round between the Sydney Swans and Collingwood Magpies.
Match details
- Who: Sydney Swans vs Collingwood Magpies
- When: Sunday 14 August, 3.20pm
- Where: SCG
- Weather: Max 19, chance of rain 5%
- TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.
- Head-to-head record since 1980: Played 68. Swans 31 wins. Magpies 31 wins.
Teams
UPDATE: Jordan De Goey is a late out for the Pies with Trent Bianco replacing him in the 22 and Callum Brown is the medi-sub. The Swans have named Braeden Campbell as their sub.
Swans
IN:
OUT: Ben Ronke (medi-sub)
MILESTONE: Isaac Heeney 150th AFL match
Magpies
IN:
OUT: Trent Bianco (medi-sub)
In a sign of two healthy, in-form teams, both Sydney and Collingwood head into this crucial clash unchanged.
Click here for complete team line-ups.
Season so far and the run home
Sydney Swans 4th – 127.5% | 1902 points for | 1492 points against | 14 wins 6 losses | WWWWW
The Swans are starting to find their best form at the right time of the season and head into this Sunday afternoon blockbuster on a five match winning streak.
Sydney’s attack has started to really fire and they have scored over 100 points in four of those five wins.
However, a lot of their ability to score heavily has been built off the back of elite pressure inside 50, with the club averaging an incredible 17 tackles per inside 50 over the last five weeks.
It is worth noting that in their current win streak, only one of those sides are in the top 8 (Fremantle-6th ), while the other four (Bulldogs-10th, Crows-15th, Giants-16th and Kangaroos-18th) are all outside the 8.
This is the biggest home and away match for the Swans in recent memory, with a win giving them a chance at finishing top two, while a loss could see them slip down to 6th.
Collingwood’s backline did a terrific job at cutting off
Collingwood Magpies 2nd – 106.3% | 1714 points for | 1612 points against | 15 wins 5 losses | WWWWW
After finishing 17th last year, even the craziest Pies’ fans wouldn’t have picked their side to be sitting second on the ladder with two rounds to go on an 11 match win streak, but here we are.
Everyone keeps predicting the Collingwood bubble to burst, but each week this incredibly resilient group keeps predicting everyone wrong in thrilling fashion.
They were beaten in pretty much every key statistic against Melbourne last week, but they just stayed in the contest and when the game was there to be won in the last quarter, they were clearly the better side.
The seem to have an incredible belief that it can win any game from any situation and their ability to get the job done when it matters has been remarkable.
The Pies can all but seal a top two finish with a win at the SCG and they’ll be confident they can make it 12 in a row.
Last 5 meetings and SCG history
- 2021 round 9: Swans 10.12 (72) defeat Magpies 5.12 (42) at SCG
- 2020 round 10: Magpies 6.14 (50) defeat Swans 6.5 (41) at Gabba
- 2019 round 10: Swans 11.7 (73) lost to Magpies 11.14 (80) at SCG
- 2018 round 20: Swans 11.7 (73) defeat Magpies 10.11 (71) at SCG
- 2017 round 3: Swans 11.13 (79) lost to Magpies 11.14 (80) at SCG
The Magpies have won three of the last five clashes, however the Swans were too good for them in their previous clash.
There have been some desperately close finishes between the sides in recent memories, with four of the last five decided by under 10 points.
The AFL clearly likes to play these sides in Sydney with 12 of the last 14 matches either played at ANZ Stadium or the SCG, while one was at the MCG and one was at the Gabba during the COVID season.
Of the last six clashes played at the SCG, the Swans hold a 4-2 advantage.
Players in form
Swans – Errol Gulden
Gulden probably hasn’t quite got the media attention that he deserves, but he is having an outstanding second season in the red and white.
The 20-year-old has had some important games throughout the season, but has really found his best form in the last month.
Spending time at half forward and through the midfield group, Gulden is averaging 22.25 disposals, 6.5 inside 50s and 4.25 tackles over the last four games while also managing 6 goals and four goal assists.
The Swans love getting the ball in his hands as he usually makes the right decision and is capable of hitting targets inside 50.
Sydney’s great kicks like Gulden and Nick Blakey will need to use the ball well going inside 50 because we saw this Collingwood defence just pick off the Demons’ entries last week when they just blazed away.
Magpies – Nick Daicos
There was a huge amount of hype on Daicos heading into this season, but the number four pick in last year’s draft has somehow exceeded expectations and has quickly become a star of the competition.
The 19-year-old hit the ground running from the first game of the season and has continued to get better and better as the year has progressed.
He put together one of the best induvial performances of the season against Adelaide in round 18, racking up 40 touches and kicking three goals in a match winning display.
There haven’t been many teenagers come in and show the composure that Daicos has displayed and you can see his teammates look to get the ball in his hands as often as they can because he rarely misses a target.
The Swans have deployed Ryan Clarke to tag the opposition’s most dangerous half back in recent weeks and there’s every chance he goes to Daicos to try and nullify his impact.
Pre match predictions
Franklinsanity: Buddy Franklin to turn it on in front of a sold out crowd at the SCG with 6 goals.
Daicos Duo: Nick and Josh Daicos to combine for 55 touches and two goals.
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
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