Fresh from overcoming one hoodoo to make the AFL grand final, Sydney must confront another to win the flag.

The Swans have had a terrible run in the last few seasons at the MCG, where they will clash with Hawthorn on Saturday to decide the premiership.

In their last 15 matches at the ground, going back to 2009, Sydney only have one win and a draw.

The Friday night preliminary final win at ANZ Stadium was Sydney’s first against Collingwood in 12 matches.

Four-time premiership coach and television commentator Leigh Matthews suspects the MCG’s size has something to do with the Swans’ poor record there.

It is a vast ground that is a circular, rather than oval-shaped.

“It’s the width, isn’t it – it’s not the length,” Matthews said on Channel Seven’s Game Day.

“It’s such a wide ground that midfield space is bigger at the MCG than any other ground in the competition, I would have thought.”

The Swans are renowned for keeping the ball in tight with their relentless pressure and not allowing opponents to generate too much run.

Star Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin said it was harder to keep a tight rein on the opposition at the MCG.

“It allows you to set up your defensive structures as well and the width around the ground and coming through the middle is going really to challenge the Swans with the way the Hawks move the ball,” Cotchin said.

But the Tigers midfielder noted the Swans would have seen plenty of encouraging signs in Saturday’s preliminary final at the MCG.

Adelaide were able to set up their running game against the Hawks and only failed by five points to pull off a massive upset.

“It just shows that they are beatable, or you can at least get really close to them,” Cotchin said.

“You can expose them in a few areas – their midfield, as much as they’re a very talented side, they lack a little bit of speed.

“That’s what we speak about when we play them.”