Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 21 match is between Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The away team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans.
When: 15:20 | Sunday 12/08/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
Melbourne and Sydney deliver contrasting styles with the Demons attacking and high scoring while the Swans are more defensive.
Demons have a tough run home against the Swans, West Coast and GWS and I think they’re good enough to win all three and hit the finals with momentum.
Sydney’s defence was strong against Collingwood but it’ll be harder against Melbourne as Jesse Hogan and Tom McDonald are two of the best key forwards in the game.
KEY BATTLE: Dane Rampe v Jesse Hogan
Rampe is in good form and Hogan is coming off four goals last week.
The Verdict
Hard to go past Melbourne at the MCG but Sydney look great value.
The Demons have a 16-10 (61.5 percent) O/U record after winning as a favourite since 2012.
Unibet Odds:
Melbourne Demons at $1.36
Sydney Swans at $3.20
Odds:
Tip: Sydney Swans at $3.00
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Jesse Hogan at $7.50
More Info:
Teams:
Melbourne Demons: 
B: Jetta, O.McDonald, Lewis
HB: Salem, Frost, Harmes
C: Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw
HF: Spargo, Hogan, vandenBerg
F: Garlett, T.McDonald, Fritsch
FOLL: Gawn, Jones, Petracca
I/C (from): Kent, Hannan, Pedersen, Vince, Neal-Bullen, Kennedy-Harris, Weideman, Hunt
IN: Kent, Hannan, Pedersen, Weideman, Hunt
OUT: Smith
Sydney Swans: 
B: Smith, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Rampe, Johnson, McVeigh
C: Heeney, Kennedy, Cunningham
HF: Hewett, Franklin, Florent
F: Hayward, McCartin, Ronke
FOLL: Sinclair, Jack, Parker
I/C (from): Cameron, Dawson, Hannebery, Newman, Towers, Papley, Robinson, Rohan
IN: Cameron, Hannebery, Rohan, Towers
OUT: Nil
AFL News:
Hobbled superstar Lance Franklin’s six-goal haul and a stunning match-winner from Tom McCartin have dragged Sydney back into the AFL’s top eight, with the Swans pipping Collingwood by two points at the SCG.
Franklin defied a restrictive heel injury, which has prevented him training this season, to boot three goals in the first quarter then ignite a third-quarter fightback.
The Swans triumphed 11.7 (73) to 10.11 (71) on Saturday night, when Darcy Moore became the latest victim in the Magpies’ injury-cursed season.
The Swans, down by 17 points at the major break and fearing a defeat that would all but ensure they miss finals for the first time under John Longmire, sparked to life and held a 18-point lead when Franklin slotted his sixth goal about 17 seconds into the final term.
The Magpies, who were without Moore for almost three quarters because of a suspected hamstring injury, rallied in style and reclaimed the lead when Travis Varcoe kicked his fourth goal of the night.
Franklin hit the post, for the third time in the low-scoring arm-wrestle, before McCartin somehow got boot to ball at the bottom of a pack to kick a scrubby goal with two minutes remaining.
A frantic series of smothers, spoils, tackles and kicks under immense pressure followed, with Isaacc Heney holding a clutch mark in defence to defuse the visitors’ final foray forward.
“It was a tough game of football. We had to find a way to win the game, backs against the wall. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys,” Franklin told the Seven Network.
“I was beaten the last two times, convincingly. I wanted to bounce back, it’s not good when you’re not playing at your best. I had to get back to basics.
“It’s going to be a tough three weeks but we’re excited by it.”
Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy produced arguably the highlight of his stellar season, helping himself to 57 hitouts while generating nine clearances, but couldn’t drag his side over the line.
With Franklin’s first opponent Moore unavailable, debutant Jack Madgen often had the job on the four-time Coleman medallist during the second half.
Coach Nathan Buckley was already in the midst of an injury crisis. Especially in defence, where Lynden Dunn, Matthew Scharenberg, Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe were absent.
The Magpies, who face Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Fremantle in the final three rounds of the regular season, squandered a golden chance to bolster their bid for a coveted double chance come September.
