Where and When: Saturday, April 17 at 4:35pm, SCG
Last time they met: In one of the stranger moments of a strange COVID-impacted season, the last Sydney Derby was played at Optus Stadium in Perth as a “quarantine” game with both teams starting a three-week stint in the west. It was a day to forget for the GIANTS as the Swans dominated to win one of their five games for the season. Luke Parker won the Brett Kirk Medal for best on ground. These two sides could not be more familiar with each other, playing against each other in a pre-season practice match earlier this year before the official AAMI Community Series match - the first clash ended in a draw while the GIANTS were comfortable victors in the second.
TV and Online: Saturday afternoon’s clash will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports from 4:30pm as well as on 7mate in NSW and the ACT.
What it means for the GIANTS: The GIANTS were back on the winners’ list for the first time in 2021 in round four after a gutsy victory over the Magpies. With the average age of the team ranked 17th in the competition, and ranked 18th for average games played, it was a young GIANTS outfit that stood up, with seven of the 22 debuting on the MCG for the first time. It will be a similar number playing in their first Derby on Saturday afternoon.
Where’s the opposition at: Flying. The Swans have had a remarkable start to the 2021 season, winning all four matches so far - almost equalling their number of wins across the entire 2020 season. They’ve been led by a young brigade and secured three Rising Star nominations over the first three rounds. They’re coming off a tight win over the Bombers at the SCG last Thursday night but have lost two key players with co-captain Dane Rampe out after finger surgery and Isaac Heeney breaking his hand.
The number: 20. In the GIANTS’ 10th season, it’s the 20th instalment of the Sydney Derby this weekend. The GIANTS have won seven of the 19 clashes so far, and the Swans 12. The first Sydney Derby was played in round one, 2012 with the Swans victorious by 63 points at ANZ Stadium. The two clubs have faced off in two finals with the GIANTS victorious in both. The Swans’ win in Perth ended a three-game streak by the GIANTS. The GIANTS have won the past three clashes at the SCG.
In the mix: There’ll be no forced changes after an injury-free weekend while Sam Reid is available for selection after serving a two-match suspension. The ruck spot looms as the big question of the week with Shane Mumford mammoth against Brodie Grundy last week but coach Leon Cameron flagging that the veteran is unlikely to play too many games in a row at this stage of his career. After a stellar debut, Matt Flynn was rested last week to keep the young ruck fresh for a long season. Kieren Briggs has also been putting his hand up and has been named an emergency multiple times this season.
