Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 21 game between the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne Kangaroos.
Match details
Who: North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans
When: Sunday 7 August, 1.10pm
Where: Marvel Stadium, Victoria
Head-to-head record since 1980: Played 68. Swans 34 wins. Kangaroos 33 wins. 1 draw
Teams
Swans
IN:Logan McDonald
OUT: Joel Amartey (omitted), Josh Kennedy (medi-sub)
Young forward McDonald comes in for Amartey, while Kennedy remains an emergency and could be the sub again.
Kangaroos
UPDATE: Ben Mckay is a late out with Josh Walker replacing him in the 22.
IN: Aaron Hall, Aidan Corr, Lachie Young, Paul Curtis
OUT: Aiden Bonar (omitted), Jackson Archer (injured), Phoenix Spicer (omitted), Josh Walker (medi-sub), Kayne Turner (omitted)
Leigh Adams has made a number of changes after a disappointing loss to Essendon. Hall and Corr add some experience down back, while Young and Curtis also return. Bonar, Spicer and Turner have been dropped while Archer is out with a hip injury. In one of the good news stories of the year, star veteran Ben Cunnington will make his return in the VFL.
Click here for complete team line-ups.
Season so far and the run home
Sydney Swans 4th – 126.5% | 1776 points for | 1404 points against | 13 wins 6 losses | WWWWL
With four straight wins, the Swans are starting to find their best form at the right time of the season and now find themselves in the top four.
While their clashes with GWS are normally hard-fought, the Swans completely dominated them right across the park in a 73-point belting last week.
The Swans improved form in recent weeks has been based largely around their ability in the contest and their elite pressure in the midfield and inside 50.
They are currently ranked first in the AFL for inside 50 tackles with 11.5 per match, but have had 20 and 22 in the last two matches.
Sydney are now in complete control of their top four destiny and are even a chance at finishing second and bagging a home qualifying final.
After this match, Sydney have a blockbuster against the third-placed Magpies at the SCG before heading to Marvel Stadium to take on St Kilda in the final round.
North Melbourne Kangaroos 18th – 54.9% | 1128 points for | 2054 points against | 2 wins 17 losses | LLWLL
It has been an incredibly disappointing season for the Kangaroos, with just two wins for the year and a dismal percentage.
They put two good performances together recently, pushing the Magpies right to the end before beating the Tigers by 4 points in a huge upset.
However, since then they have returned to their previous form with a 46-point loss to Hawthorn followed by a 48-point defeat to Essendon.
Despite the poor year, the Roos would love to finish the season off on a positive note. Their last three matches are against the Swans, Crows (Adelaide Oval) and Sun (Marvel Stadium).
Last 5 meetings and Marvel Stadium history
- 2022 round 4: Swans 13.8 (86) defeat Kangaroos 12.3 (75) at SCG
- 2021 round 22: Kangaroos 12.5 (77) lost to Swans 13.13 (91) at Marvel Stadium
- 2020 round 3: Kangaroos 8.12 (60) lost to Swans 10.11 (71) at Marvel Stadium
- 2019 round 9: Kangaroos 10.12 (72) lost to Swans 11.11 (77) at Blundstone Arena
- 2018 round 17: Kangaroos 15.8 (98) lost to Swans 16.8 (104) at Marvel Stadium
After a win earlier this season, Swans have now won five in a row against the Kangaroos, but they’ve all been even contests. The biggest margin was just 14 points last year, while two of the games were decided by 6 points or less.
The Roos gave the Swans an almighty fright earlier in the year, with Sydney just clawing their way to a victory with a final quarter comeback.
Since 2010, they have met at Marvel Stadium seven times with the Swans winning all seven encounters.
Players in form
Swans – Sam Reid
Not many Swans fans would’ve predicted Reid to play such a crucial role for the side, but he has become an integral part of this side and is playing great footy.
The 30-year-old has been ravaged by injuries throughout his time at the Swans, but is now arguably in career best form playing a mix of forward and ruck.
He was brilliant against GWS last week, finishing the match with 18 disposals, five marks, 13 hitouts, four clearances and three goals.
Reid is giving the club a marking target both around the ground and inside 50, while his mobility in the ruck has been extremely valuable for the side.
Kangaroos – Luke Davies-Uniacke
Davies Uniacke’s form over the last two months has been one of the few bright spots for the Roos this season.
The 23-year-old is averaging career-highs in disposals (23.8), tackles (4.5), inside 50s (4.7) and clearances (4.8).
His standout game was in the club’s narrow loss to Collingwood in round 17 where he racked up 33 disposals, 14 inside 50s, 12 clearances, 11 tackles and 2 goal assists.
LDU looks like he future of this Kangaroos midfield, but he just needs a few of his fellow youngsters to follow his lead.
Pre match predictions
The Lizard runs riot at Marvel: Nick ‘The Lizard’ Blakey to continue his strong form with 25 touches and two goal assists.
Big Ben: Ben McKay to stand tall for North with 7 intercept marks.
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
