A HUGE top-four stoush is on the cards when the Sydney Swans host Geelong at the SCG on Thursday night. The Cats' 20-point victory over North Melbourne last week secured second place on the ladder after the bye rounds. Gold Coast's victory over the Western Bulldogs then pushed the dormant Swans down to fifth spot and they will be keen to regain some momentum and extend their five-game winning streak. Jimmy Bartel and Tom Hawkins are in form for the visitors, while Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett will feature together at the SCG for the first time.
WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Thursday May 29, 7.10pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R22, 2013, Geelong 13.14 (92) d Sydney Swans 7.6 (48) at Simonds Stadium
R4, 2013, Geelong 19.10 (124) d Sydney Swans 16.7 (103) at the SCG
R23, 2012, Geelong 17.10 (112) d Sydney Swans 11.12 (78) at Simonds Stadium
R13, 2012, Sydney Swans 12.8 (80) d Geelong 11.8 (74) at the SCG
R23, 2011, Sydney Swans 15.9 (99) d Geelong 12.14 (86) at Simonds Stadium
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THE SIX POINTS
1. Steve Johnson will return from suspension for the Cats. The last time these sides met, Johnson finished with 26 touches, four goals and three Brownlow Medal votes.
2. Geelong has a strong record at the SCG, winning 16 of its 28 games at the venue, including two of the past three.
2. Geelong has a strong record at the SCG, winning 16 of its 28 games at the venue, including two of the past three.
3. The last time the Swans beat the Cats, in round 13, 2012, substitute Andrejs Everitt's late goal from a tight angle in the final term helped them to a six-point victory at the SCG.
4. This is a clash of two of the AFL's best tackling teams. Geelong is currently No.1 in the competition with an average of 75 per game and the Swans are third with 74 per outing.
5. The Swans' greatest winning margin against Geelong is 109 points way back in their premiership year of 1933. For the Cats, they enjoyed a 104-point triumph in 1976 at Kardinia Park.
6. Surprisingly the Swans have more players inside the top 20 of the Official AFL Player Ratings than the Cats. Joel Selwood is fourth overall but the Swans have Kennedy (seventh), Jack (ninth), Franklin (16th) and McVeigh (17th) all ranked with the game's best. The only other Cat inside the top 20 is Johnson (14th), however Bartel (21st) is knocking on the door.
Prediction: Geelong by two points
