THURSDAY night is teams night on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
For so long a staple in the typical football week, we must sit and wait for the return of the flurry of line-ups dropping at 6.20pm AEST.
>> WHO WINS THE GAME? CHECK OUT THE TEAMS AND VOTE BELOW
So instead, we're winding back the clock to pull apart one match-up.
RIVALS The day the Giants stood tall against the Swans
This week we're delving into the growing rivalry between Sydney and Greater Western Sydney who were set to meet on Saturday night at the SCG.
It was due to be their 19th meeting since their first clash in round one, 2012.
Here's how the team line-ups would look with every player available who has represented both clubs since the Giants' inception.
Who would win? Tell us in the poll below …
SYDNEY (2012-2020)
B: Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh
C: Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Lewis Jetta
HF: Luke Parker, Lance Franklin, Isaac Heeney
F: Tom Papley, Adam Goodes, Kieren Jack
R: Kurt Tippett, Jude Bolton, Tom Mitchell
Inter: Rhyce Shaw, Ryan O'Keefe, Jake Lloyd, Callum Mills
Coach: John Longmire
Franklin and Goodes combined is a handful for any backline. While Goodes won most of his accolades further up the ground, he played closer to goal later in his career and will form a dangerous partnership with Franklin. It allows Bolton and Mitchell to partner Kennedy, who has dominated in games against the Giants, in a bullocking centre square set-up. Given Mumford played more games for the Giants than the Swans, he was only allowed to be named for one team – paving the way for Tippett to be named over Mike Pyke. Half-forwards Parker and Heeney can also swing into the midfield. McVeigh's flexibility, and the strength of the running defenders, can also see the 325-gamer push forward , along with Ryan O'Keefe who played 53 games 2012-2014. Sam Reid's inconsistency saw him miss, while Ben McGlynn, Marty Mattner and George Hewett were next in line. – Mitch Cleary
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY (2012-2020)
B: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson
HB: Heath Shaw, Nick Haynes, Zac Williams
C: Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, Tom Scully
HF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Devon Smith
F: Steve Johnson, Jonathon Patton, Rory Lobb
R: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar
Inter: Josh Kelly, Taylor Adams, Dylan Shiel, Tim Taranto
Coach: Leon Cameron
Good luck stopping this midfield. The Giants have always had a luxury of quality on-ballers throughout their history, and this side highlights those riches. So much so that the four interchange options are midfielders, however a couple can push forward to be a rotation there. The top-17 players who have played the most games for the Giants across their history are all in this team, with the 18th on that list, Aidan Corr, the first to miss out. The main questions with selection was around the second key forward after Cameron, and whether Patton or Lobb would get in. In the end, we went with a three-pronged attack. The Giants started their history with the likes of Luke Power, James McDonald, Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan all at the club, but none played their best chunk of football with the Giants so were left out. Former Geelong star Johnson kicked 64 goals in 40 games with the Giants and nabbed a forward pocket. – Callum Twomey
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE START OF 2012
Overall: Sydney 11 wins, Greater Western Sydney eight wins
Finals: Sydney 0 wins, Greater Western Sydney two wins
THREE MATCH-UPS
Lance Franklin v Phil Davis: While Franklin has got hold of the Giants several times (he's kicked three bags of five from 11 games, Davis has clearly had his measure in finals. In both September clashes against the Giants, Franklin has failed to kick a major.
Dan Hannebery v Lachie Whitfield: In Hannebery's time at the Swans, Whitfield played mostly across half-back. But in recent times he's stepped up to become one of the premier link men in the competition. In his peak, Hannebery was one of the hardest running midfielder in the competition.
Tom Papley v Heath Shaw: There's no love lost between this pair. Have already shared words on the field – one exchange where Shaw was forced to apologise to Papley – and whatever contests they have left are bound to be fiery.
THREE STARRING PERFORMANCES SINCE 2012:
Jeremy Cameron (QF, 2016): Leading by two points midway through the third quarter, the next six minutes belonged to Cameron. He kicked three goals in an explosive burst, handing the Giants a 21-point lead at the final break.
Lance Franklin (R22, 2018): With the Swans trailing by 17 points late in the third term, Franklin took control. He booted one goal before the final break and exploded with two more in the final quarter – to make it five for the match – with direct opponent Phil Davis hobbling with a hip complaint.
Toby Greene (EF, 2018): Will forever be remembered as the day Greene forced the marking laws to change… but he was damn good as well. Kicked 3.3 from 27 disposals and the Swans' defence had no answer to his aerial prowess. Better still, he delivered after missing the previous three weeks with a hamstring injury.
MOST BROWNLOW VOTES IN SYDNEY v GWS GAMES SINCE 2012:
- Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin (13 votes)
- Shane Mumford – combined both clubs (8 votes)
- Kieren Jack (7 votes)
- Callan Ward (6 votes)
- Nick Haynes and Dan Hannebery (5 votes)
THE MOMENT
Known for his performances on the big stage, Steve Johnson was never going to take a backward step in the Giants' first final in 2016 against the Swans. Midway through the first term, Johnson burst through a stoppage to flatten Swans skipper Josh Kennedy. An all-in scuffle ensued, with Lance Franklin taking exception for the hit that cost Johnson one-match and a place in the preliminary final a week later.
