Is Sunday's clash at the SCG between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions a case of Generation X versus Generation Next?
The Lions were
the team of the early 2000s but have been in rebuilding mode for the past couple of seasons while their opponents directly to the south have taken the AFL limelight, featuring in the past two Grand Finals and netting a premiership of their own.
But while Brisbane's climb back to the top of the AFL tree was expected to be a lengthy process, a wealth of gifted youngsters has Leigh Matthews' side sitting atop the ladder after just two weeks, following impressive wins over Hawthorn and St Kilda.
Sydney's task will be curbing the run of those young guns while trying to continue their own momentum after a grinding win over Richmond at the MCG in round two.
The Swans also have a little extra motivation in the form of a milestone for favourite son Michael O'Loughlin, who chalks up his 250th game in the red and white.
The outcome of this contest could well come down to who actually takes the field for each side.
Richard Hadley and Jamie Charman have been named in the Lions' extended interchange bench and their possible inclusions could be big plusses for the visitors, while Nigel Lappin will definitely return after missing last week's win.
For Sydney, Matthew Laidlaw, Jarred Moore and Luke Vogels were all added to last week's 22-man squad.
But the big question mark regarding selection revolves around spearhead Barry Hall, who is battling injury after hyper-extending his left knee against the Tigers last week.
The Lions will be desperate for Hall - who has rarely missed a game in recent seasons - to watch the game from the stands, as Brisbane has often felt the big man's wrath in front of goal.
If he is forced to do so, it will rob the crowd of a Hall v Jonathan Brown shootout but it will level the playing field in terms of the two teams' forward line potencies.
The Swans still possess plenty of attacking weapons, but how their forward line structures without Hall would be the X-factor.
At the other end, Brown looms as the obvious danger man for Paul Roos. Craig Bolton, himself a former Lion, is likely to get the job on the powerhouse. If the Swans contain Brown, Brisbane will find it tough to kick a winning score.
That said, the Lions' greatest threat this season appears to be their young brigade of runners.
Justin Sherman, Cheynee Stiller and Michael Rischitelli complement the more experienced Simon Black and Luke Power to form a lethal midfield troop.
Adam Goodes, Jarrad McVeigh, Nic Fosdike, Brett Kirk and Amon Buchanan will need to be at their best to match the Lions' run.
It is the Sydney Swans' first match for the year at a new-look SCG. All Swans fans, and in particular the man celebrating his big game in the number 19 jumper, will be hoping for a memorable day.
SYDNEY V BRISBANE LIONSSunday, 1:10pm AEST, SCGSYDNEY
B: Ted Richards, Leo Barry, Nick Malceski
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Craig Bolton, Sean Dempster
C: Amon Buchanan, Brett Kirk, Ben Matthews
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Michael O’Loughlin, Jude Bolton
F: Jarrad McVeigh, Barry Hall, Luke Ablett
FOLL: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Nic Fosdike
I/C (from): Peter Everitt, Heath Grundy, Tim Schmidt, Matthew Laidlaw, Jarred Moore, Luke Vogels, Adam Schneider
In: Laidlaw, Moore, Vogels
Out: -
BRISBANEB: Colm Begley, Daniel Merrett, Wayde Mills
HB: Jed Adcock, Jared Brennan, Robert Copeland
C: Justin Sherman, Ben Fixter, Cheynee Stiller
HF: Chris Johnson, Jonathan Brown, Tim Notting
F: Michael Rischitelli, Joel Patfull, Ashley McGrath
FOLL: Cameron Wood, Simon Black, Luke Power
I/C (from): Nigel Lappin, Beau McDonald, Matthew Moody, Scott Harding, Marcus Allan, Richard Hadley, Jamie Charman
In: Richard Hadley, Nigel Lappin, Jamie Charman
Out: -
