SUMMARY: There are currently five teams yet to taste defeat in 2013 and two of them will come face-to-face in a huge Friday night clash at the SCG. Rumours of the Swans' indifferent form were emphatically snapped in last week's victory over North Melbourne, which included a stunning 11-goal third quarter. The premiers are working their way into the new season very nicely and only have Rhyce Shaw (abdominal strain) as an injury concern right now. Their midfield brigade of Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack, Luke Parker, Ryan O'Keefe and Dan Hannebery are like moths to a flame when it comes to gathering possessions and they are also contributing plenty of goals.
But the home side can expect a stern challenge against a Geelong outfit that is also showing it has no interest in a gradual slide down the ladder. In each of their three matches this season, the Cats have found themselves in trouble, only to fight back and finish the game in front. Mathew Stokes and Steven Motlop are proving dangerous propositions all over the ground, while Taylor Hunt shut down Marc Murphy on Saturday and will get another big job this week. Steve Johnson sustained a bruised knee against Carlton but is expected to take his place in the side, with James Kelly also close to a return from a knock to his Achilles.
WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Friday, April 19, 7.50pm?
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide
THE LAST FIVE
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
R4, 2011, Geelong 11.15 (81) d Sydney Swans 7.12 (54) at the SCG
R18, 2010, Geelong 20.5 (125) d Sydney Swans 9.18 (72) at ANZ Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Geelong has an excellent recent record against the Swans, winning nine straight matches between 2006-2011. But the Swans have won two of the past three, including a drought-breaking triumph in Geelong in round 23, 2011.
2. Last season the Swans won a thriller at the SCG, jumping out to a big lead before the Cats fought back. In the final quarter, Andrejs Everitt came on as a sub and kicked the winning goal from a tight angle for the home side.
3. Overall there have been 213 matches between the teams, with Geelong holding a healthy 117-95 advantage since their first meeting in 1897. The Cats have also performed well at the SCG, winning 15 of their 27 games at the venue.
4. This will be a rare Friday night game at the SCG, just the third at the ground since 2005. The premiers will also host Carlton at the SCG on a Friday night in round 14.
5. After losing to the Swans at the SCG in round 14 last season, the Cats marched to a 34-point win in the return bout in Geelong just before the finals. Interestingly, the losing side in both games won the contested possession count.
6. Geelong has an excellent record interstate. Since 2009, the Cats have played 22 games outside Victoria for 14 wins.
