The Swans will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season when they take on a Demons side missing their inspirational skipper.

Match details

• Who: Melbourne Demons vs Sydney Swans
• When: Sunday 2 April, 3.20pm
• Where: MCG
• Weather: Max 19. 10% chance of rain
• Click here to buy tickets
• Head-to-head record since 1980: Played 70. Swans 43 wins. Demons 25 wins. 2 draws.

Teams

Swans

IN: Lance Franklin

OUT: Hayden McLean (omitted), Matt Roberts (sub)

While there was talk during the week that Sydney was a better side without Franklin, the future hall of famer was always going to return. Although, he will likely get Steven May again who has had Buddy’s measure in recent meetings. McLean is the unlucky one to make way after Joel Amartey and Logan McDonald were both outstanding last week.

Demons

IN: Steven May, James Jordon, Michael Hibberd, Jacob van Rooyen (debut)

OUT: Adam Tomlinson (omitted), Jake Melksham (sub), James Harmes (personal reason), Max Gawn (injured), Tom McDonald (omitted)

Gawn is a huge loss for the Dees, with the club captain set to miss up to six weeks with a knee injury, meaning Brody Grundy will be the number one ruck. Experienced duo McDonald and Tomlinson have been dropped after slow starts to the season, while Harmes will also miss. May returning is a huge boost for Melbourne, while 19-year-old key forward van Rooyen will play his first AFL game.

Click here for complete team line-ups.

Round one recap

Sydney Swans 1^st – 232.7% | 228 points for | 98 points against | 2 wins & 0 losses

The Swans are yet to be truly tested this season, but they’ve done exactly what they needed to against underwhelming opposition.

Last week’s 81-point demolition of Hawthorn resembled more of a training run than a genuine AFL match, as Sydney did what they pleased for much of the contest.

The beauty of this Sydney side is how even they are right across the board, and that’s been evident so far with no clear standouts over the first two rounds.

It will be interesting to see how Sydney’s form holds up in their first real test of the season against Melbourne, while there is also the added intrigue of them returning to the MCG for the first time since last year’s Grand Final nightmare.

Melbourne Demons 8^th – 124.7% | 197 points for | 158 points against| 1 win & 1 loss

The Demons started the year with a bang defeating the Dogs easily, but were disappointing in last week’s strange game against Brisbane.

Melbourne trailed by 40 points before the lights went out at the Gabba with 12 minutes to go. They made a late rally once play resumed but they were well and truly outplayed in the opening 3 and a half quarters. They did lose Gawn early in the game and it’s hard to know exactly how much impact that had on them.

Clayton Oliver has started the year superbly once again and this will be his 150th match for the club so expect his teammates and the crowd to be fired up for the champion midfielder.

The Dees came into this season as one of the favourites for the flag and they will be looking for a strong response from last week’s effort.

Last 5 meetings and MCG history

• 2022 Qualifying Final: Demons 10.9 (69) lost to Swans 14.7 (91) at MCG
• 2022 round 12: Demons 9.7 (61) lost to Swans 10.13 (73) at MCG
• 2021 round 8: Demons 10.7 (67) defeated Swans 8.10 (58) at MCG
• 2020 round 15: Swans 10.7 (67) defeated Demons 6.10 (46) at Cazaly’s Stadium Cairns
• 2019 round 22: Demons 5.12 (42) lost to Swans 15.5 (95) at MCG

The Swans have won four of the last five matchups against Melbourne, including two big wins at the MCG last year.

Sydney kicked the last four goals of the game to claim a stunning comeback win in their first meeting, while they controlled the second half of the Qualifying Final clash to book a home Prelim.

The Swans have a commanding record over Melbourne in their last ten meetings at the MCG, winning eight games, losing one with one draw back in 2011.

Pre match predictions

Swans bury MCG Demons: Sydney to put their Grand Final massacre at the MCG behind them win a close win over Melbourne. Swans by 8.

Milestone man: Clayton Oliver to star once again with 30 touches, 8 clearances and a goal in his 150th match.

Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.