Sydney v Adelaide | Saturday, September 17, 7.25pm (AEDT), SCG
The Swans limp into this weekend’s semi-final without rising star Winner Callum Mills and ruck forward Kurt Tippett.
Both are casualties from a hard, tough and brutal encounter with GWS.
This is a significant loss for coach John Longmire who has able replacements (perhaps Jeremy Laidler andToby Nankervis), but no-one with the class of Mills and Tippett.
Another concern is ace midfielder Josh Kennedy who managed to run into Steve Johnson’s shoulder to concuss himself.
Crucial to Sydney’s chances will be the midfield battle. If the Swans don’t get on top here, then the Crows might have too much firepower up forward.
Think Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker, and run off the half back line, think the outstanding Brodie Smith.
Man for man, the Swans midfield would appear to have the Crows covered even allowing for the great form of Matt Crouch and Rory Sloane.
Adelaide will need the likes of Jarryd Lyons and Rory Atkins to lift to try and match the grunt of Parker, Mitchell, Hannebery, Jack and Kennedy.
Buddy Franklin (pictured above) was surprisingly ineffective against the Giants and it’s a safe bet he’ll put in a big one to terrorise the shaky defence of Kyle Cheney and Kyle Hartigan.
Even though the Crows have a great record at the SCG winning six of their last 10 games there, expect the Swans to bounce back hard in front of a big SCG crowd.
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Unibet Odds:
Last time they met: Rd.4, 2016 – Adelaide 113 def Sydney 103
Tip: Adelaide Crows $2.50
Line tip: Adelaide Crows +10.5
TEAMS:
SWANS
B: N.Smith, H.Grundy, D.Rampe
HB: H.Marsh, A.Aliir, J.McVeigh
C: I.Heeney, J.Kennedy, J.Lloyd
HF: G.Hewett, L.Franklin, L.Parker
F: T.Mitchell, G.Rohan, X.Richards
R: S.Naismith, D.Hannebery, K.Jack, T.Papley
I/C: J.Laidler, B.McGlynn, T.Nankervis, T.Papley
EMG: H.Cunningham, J.Rose, T.Richards
IN: J.Laidler, T.Nankervis
OUT: K.Tippett, C.Mills.
CROWS
B: L.Brown, D.Talia, R.Laird
HB: B.Smith, K.Hartigan, K.Cheney
C: R.Atkins, R.Sloane, D.Mackay
HF: E.Betts, T.Walker, C.Cameron
F: J.Lyons, J.Jenkins, T.Lynch
R: S.Jacobs, M.Crouch, R.Douglas
I/C: B.Crouch, S.Thompson, J.Lever, M.McGovern
EMG: R.Knight, P.Seedsman, A.Otten
Unchanged.