Head to head: Sydney Swans 11 wins, Port Adelaide 6 wins
Last time: Sydney Swans 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.10 (94), round nine, 2008, at AAMI Stadium
Missing in Action:
Sydney Swans
Lewis Roberts-Thomson (hamstring) - test
Leo Barry (knee) - test
Patrick Veszpremi (finger) - 1 week
Brendan Murphy (shoulder) - 4-5 weeks
Lewis Johnston (foot) - 8 weeks
Tim Schmidt (knee) - indefinite
Henry Playfair (hamstring) - indefinite
Campbell Health (knee) - season
Port Adelaide
Josh Carr (hip) - available
Jarrad Redden (ankle) - available
Steve Salopek (shoulder) - test
Nick Salter (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Justin Westhoff (foot) - 3-4 weeks
Shaun Burgoyne (knee) - 4 weeks
FORM
Sydney Swans: WLWLW
Port Adelaide: WLWLW
SUMMARY
Players from both sides were calling for the paddles after two equally heart-stopping results in round eight.
The Swans, courtesy of a clever snap from Kieran Jack, snatched a five-point win over fierce rivals West Coast, while Port Adelaide veteran Warren Tredrea broke Richmond hearts with a goal and then game-saving mark in the dying minutes.
Burly Swan Barry Hall responded to his goal scoring duck against Geelong, nailing five goals from six possessions.
Tredrea continued a good weekend for full-forwards, steering his side to victory with a return of 7.4 from 20 touches and 11 marks.
Onballers Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak and Danyle Pearce were also prolific as the Power fought back from 16 points down in the final term to stun the Tigers.
One side, with the exception of a draw, will find some much-needed consistency after Sunday’s clash at the SCG.
The Swans are yet to string together consecutive wins this season and the Power will be keen to shake their tag as the Jekyll and Hyde of the competition.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sydney Swans - Barry Hall
Swans coach Paul Roos would have been thrilled to see Hall impose himself on the game last week with five majors, but equally pleasing was the big man’s defensive pressure. Hall was credited with five tackles; his most in a game since round six, 2006. Hall’s physicality and presence are trademarks of his game and the Swans are a far more dangerous side with the 32-year-old firing.
Port Adelaide - Dom Cassisi
The new skipper appears to have come to grips with the added responsibility over the past fortnight. Cassisi has averaged 25 possessions and 10 tackles in his past two outings and will be a valuable contributor against the hard-bodied Swans. Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe laid 27 tackles-combined against West Coast and coach Mark Williams will look to the hard-nosed Cassisi to inspire some physicality among his teammates on Sunday.
QUESTION MARKS
Can Port Adelaide beat the Swans at their own game? The Power are at their best when permitted to run rings around opposition teams, but the disciplined Swans simply won’t allow it. The visitors will have to rely on contested possession and sheer hard work - rather than flair - to get the points this week.
Can the Swans maintain their unbeaten run in NSW? The Swans are yet to drop a game on their home turf this season and play the SCG better than any other side in the competition.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY?
The Swans have emerged victorious in four of the past five games between these two sides and boast an averaging winning margin of eight goals in the last two clashes with the Power at the SCG.
Port Adelaide says it can take confidence from its NAB Cup win over the Swans in NSW, but that was just the pre-season competition.
The Power put a huge emphasis on contested possession over the summer and despite showing marked improvement are yet to apply it consistently and have struggled against the likes of St Kilda and North Melbourne.
PREDICTION
Sydney Swans by 17 points.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
