Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round five game between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles in Perth.
Match details
Who: West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans
When: Friday 15 April 2022 at 7.40pm AEST
Where: Optus Stadium, WA
Weather: Min 16 Max 29 Chance of rain 0%
Head-to-head record since 1987: Played 55. Swans 32 wins. Eagles 23 wins.
Teams
Swans
IN: Logan McDonald
OUT: Lance Franklin (injured), Josh Kennedy (managed)
MILESTONE: James Rowbottom 50 games
The Swans have brought in young key forward McDonald for the injured Franklin, while Kennedy has been managed after a quiet start to the season playing out of position.
Eagles
IN: Bailey J. Williams, Elliot Yeo, Harry Edwards, Jamie Cripps, Luke Shuey, Tim Kelly
OUT: Nic Naitanui (injured), Jeremy McGovern (COVID protocols), Brady Hough (omitted), Connor West (omitted), Jake Waterman (omitted), Xavier O’Neill (omitted), Luke Edwards (injured)
MILESTONE: Jamie Cripps 200 games
The number of Eagles’ changes is rather small compared to some of their team announcements this year and they have a number of big inclusions to their midfield mix with Yeo, Shuey and Kelly all returning. However, those gains are somewhat mitigated by the huge losses of Naitanui and McGovern.
Season so far
Sydney Swans 6th – 115.9% | 365 points for | 315 points against | 3 wins 1 loss | WLWW
Sydney were terrific over the opening fortnight of the competition, but have been slightly underwhelming in their last two matches.
They came up a Kangaroos side with a point to prove last week and only just managed to get over the line thanks to brilliant final quarters from Justin McInerney and Isaac Heeney.
While the last two weeks have shown the Swans still have plenty of room for improvement, they are 3-1 and now have a good base to push for top four.
West Coast Eagles 15th – 76.5% | 273 points for | 357 points against | 1 win 3 losses | WLLL
The Eagles have had dreadful luck to start the season with a plethora of injuries and COVID-related issues, but they managed to put all of that behind them with a gutsy win over Collingwood last week.
It was one of those famous backs against the wall type victories that would have had Eagles’ fans beaming with pride given the obstacles they’ve faced so far in 2022.
While finals still seem like a bridge too far for the Eagles, they’ve shown they can be more than competitive on their day and would love to get their first win at home this year.
Last 5 meetings and Optus Stadium history
- 2021 round 16 – Swans 18.10 (118) defeat Eagles 3.8 (26) at Kardinia Park
- 2020 round 5 – Eagles 11.11 (77) defeat Swans 6.7 (43) at Metricon Stadium
- 2019 round 12 – Swans 18.8 (116) defeat Eagles 10.11 (71) at SCG
- 2018 round 13 – Swans 10.12 (72) defeat Eagles 7.15 (57) at SCG
- 2018 round 1 – Eagles 13.8 (86) defeated by Swans 18.7 (115) at Optus Stadium
The Swans have a terrific recent record over the Eagles, winning four of the last five including a 92-point thumping in Geelong last year.
That loss was really the beginning of the end for the Eagles 2021 campaign as they were simply uncompetitive from the word go and Sydney were sensational.
The teams have only met the one time at Optus Stadium, with Buddy Franklin’s eight goals leading the Swans to a comfortable victory.
Since 2010, they have met in Perth seven times with the Swans holding a 5-2 advantage.
Key players
Isaac Heeney – Swans
Heeney has had superstar potential since the moment he burst onto the scene in 2015, and while a few injuries have slowed his progression, the 25-year-old looks to have taken the next step in 2022.
There was plenty of talk about Heeney becoming a more permanent midfielder this year, but he is just so dangerous in the forward 50 that he continues to be Sydney’s best attacking option.
While he is definitely spending more time in the middle than last year, the Swans have seemingly found the perfect balance for Heeney between midfield and forward, with the star averaging 20.2 disposals, 3 clearances, 7 tackles and 2.8 goals per game.
It’s so valuable for Sydney to have such a versatile player and with Franklin out of the side, they may need Heeney to play more forward this week.
Luke Shuey – Eagles
Shuey has played just 21 games since being named captain at the end of 2019 after a series of unfortunate injuries, but there’s no denying he’s still one of the club’s best players when he’s on the park.
In his only game so far this season against the Roos, Shuey picked up 23 disposals, 8 clearances and 9 tackles as the seriously undermanned Eagles almost pulled off a miracle victory.
The 31-year-old has plenty of support in the middle with the likes of Kelly, Yeo and Redden all in the side, but you feel like its the skipper that needs to step up to help drag his side over the line.
Pre match predictions
Big Mac: Logan McDonald to kick four goals in a starring role up forward for the Swans.
Hurn baby Hurn: Shannon Hurn to play a crucial role down back without McGovern and have 25 disposals and take 5 intercept marks .
Swans by 16 points
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