Match day guide and preview for the 2022 round 7 match of the round between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions.
Match details
Who: Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
When: Sunday 1 May, 4.40pm
Where: SCG, NSW
Weather: Min 15 Max 21. Chance of rain 40%, 0 to 2mm
Head-to-head record since 1997: Played 41. Swans 26 wins. Lions 14 wins. 1 draw.
Ins and outs
Swans
IN: Sam Reid, Tom Papley
OUT: Paddy McCartin (concussion), Logan McDonald (concussion), James Bell (omitted)
MILESTONE: Oliver Florent – 100 games
Papley is a huge inclusion for Sydney as he comes in for his first game of the season. Reid also comes in with McCartin, McDonald and Bell making way. Josh Kennedy was superb coming on as the sub last week and will start in the 22.
Lions
IN:
OUT: Kai Lohmann (injured)
Click here for complete team line-ups.
Season so far
Sydney Swans 4th – 134.9% | 595 points for | 441 points against | 5 wins 1 loss | WWWLW
It was a bit of a strange performance from Sydney on ANZAC Day against the Hawks, with the Swans stumbling out of the blocks before surging away for a 41-point win.
They were dominated around the contest early in the game before Callum Mills and Luke Parker started to get their hands on the ball and the momentum shifted.
The Swans kicked nine goals in the final quarter and really showed how potent they can be when the game is played on their terms.
Sydney would be thrilled with their start to the season, but a red-hot Brisbane side shapes as their biggest test to date.
Brisbane Lions 3rd – 142.9% | 633 points for | 443 points against | 5 wins 1 loss | WWLWW
The Lions are ticking along nicely this year with their firepower up forward a real strength.
They have scored the most points in the AFL across the first six weeks and it’s not hard to figure out why with the likes of Joe Daniher (19 goals), Zac Bailey (16 goals) and Charlie Cameron (12 goals) all fit and firing.
While the Lions are winning and well on track to be top four yet again, they have a real chance stake their claim as the number 2 seed behind Melbourne with a win here.
Last 5 meetings and SCG history
- 2021 round 1 – Lions 14.10 (94) lost to Swans 19.11 (125) at Gabba
- 2020 round 17 – Swans 6.5 (41) lost to Lions 11.7 (73) at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
- 2019 round 7 – Lions 14.19 (103) defeat Swans 12.9 (81) at Gabba
- 2018 round 10 – Lions 6.13 (49) lost to Swans 10.7 (67) at Gabba
- 2017 round 7 – Swans 20.15 (135) defeat Lions 12.9 (81) at SCG
The Swans have won three of the last five meetings against Brisbane, including a round one upset last year at the Gabba.
Dating back to 2003, the sides have met 10 times at the SCG with the Swans holding a commanding 9-1 record. The Lions’ lone win was back in 2009 with Sydney winning the last five straight.
Stats that matter
Both sides rankly highly in most attacking stats so this promises to be a fun, entertaining game to watch.
The Lions average the most points of any team in the AFL so far with 105.5 per game, while Sydney are in third with 99.2 points a contest.
Sydney rank fifth for inside 50s per game at 55.8, while they are fourth for entries converted into goals at 26.9 per cent.
Brisbane is sixth for inside 50s per game at 55.2 and are the best team in the AFL at goal efficiency, converting 29 per cent of entries into snags.
Both teams have plenty of talent up forward so if we some of Franklin, Heeney, Papley, Daniher, Cameron and Bailey fire, we should be in for one hell of a show.
Key matchup
Tom McCartin vs Joe Daniher
With his older brother out, McCartin will almost certainly get the matchup on Daniher and it should be a great challenge for the Swans defender.
McCartin has had a terrific start to the season down back, with none of his forward opponents getting a hold of him yet.
The 22-year-old is giving away 8cm to Daniher, but he has good bodywork and should be able to use it to avoid Daniher from stretching out too much. He just won’t want to push Daniher too much because he can go to ground particularly easily looking for a free kick.
After a frustrating last few seasons at the Bombers, Daniher seems to have found a new lease on life up in Brisbane and is healthy and playing some great footy.
He kicked 46 goals last year, the second most in his career, and now sits equal second in the Coleman Medal race with 19 goals.
The Lions have a number of options to kick goals, but Daniher getting off the chain would go a long way to helping them win.
Player spotlight
Chad Warner – Sydney
Warner emerged as a player with serious potential in his 13 games last year and has improved nicely this season.
The 20-year-old is averaging 21.6 disposals per game, 3.8 tackles and 2.8 clearances and is also hitting the scoreboard with five goals.
He gives the Swans something different in the middle with his speed out of stoppages and ability to evade tackles a real threat for the opposition.
Zac Bailey – Lions
Bailey had a breakout season for Brisbane last year and has become a super dangerous player that oozes class.
His six goals and 17 possessions against the Suns last week was the perfect illustration of how damaging Bailey can be in the forward half.
The 22-year-old is a terrific player to watch and will play an important role if the Lions are to challenge for a premiership in 2022.
Pre match predictions
Papped on arrival: Tom Papley to star on his return with three goals, including the first goal of the game.
The Neale Deal: Lachie Neale to have 35 disposals and kick a goal.
Swans by 2 points
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
