Friday’s AFL 2018 Round 19 match is between Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans.
When: 19:50 | Friday 27/07/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
In-form Bombers with a great chance to move closer to the top 8 with a win against the Swans.
It’s important because if they lose, their slim finals hope will be over.
Dons were wayward against the Dockers, an off day in front of goal which luckily didn’t cost them against Fremantle.
The Bombers usually play very well at Etihad.
Sydney will be angry after last week’s shock loss to the Suns.
I’d expect a strong, physical response.
KEY BATTLE: Nick Smith v Orazio Fantasia
This matchup will be a cracker.
The Verdict
Really difficult one to tip so I’ll go with the home side which leads the Bombers 10-1 since 2010.
The Swans have a 10-7 (58.8 percent) line record playing interstate in night matches since 2016.
Unibet Odds:
Essendon Bombers at $1.76
Sydney Swans at $2.07
Tip: Sydney Swans at $2.05
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Lance Franklin at $6.50
More Info:
Teams:
Essendon Bombers: 
B Matt Dea, Cale Hooker, Andrew McGrath
HB Adam Saad, Michael Hurley, Conor McKenna
C Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis
HF Devon Smith, Jake Stringer, Mark Baguley
F Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Mitch Brown, Orazio Fantasia
FOL Tom Bellchambers, Brendon Goddard, David Myers
I/C Darcy Parish, Aaron Francis, Kyle Langford, Matt Guelfi
EMG Travis Colyer, Matthew Leuenberger, Jake Long, Ben McNiece
IN Conor McKenna, Jake Stringer, Aaron Francis
OUT Travis Colyer (Omitted), Shaun McKernan (Injured), Ben McNiece (Omitted)
Sydney Swans: 
B Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB Jake Lloyd, Aliir Aliir, Colin O’Riordan
C Harry Cunningham, Josh P. Kennedy, Isaac Heeney
HF Oliver Florent, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley
F Ben Ronke, Tom McCartin, Will Hayward
FOL Callum Sinclair, George Hewett, Luke Parker
I/C Jordan Dawson, Robbie Fox, Nic Newman, Zak Jones
EMG Darcy Cameron, Harry Marsh, Daniel Robinson, Dean Towers
IN Heath Grundy, Jordan Dawson
OUT Harry Marsh (Omitted), Darcy Cameron (Omitted)
AFL News:
Sydney are yet to make a call on whether Jarrad McVeigh and Heath Grundy will go around for one more season, with the AFL veterans facing a crunch month for different reasons.
McVeigh and Grundy both indicated earlier this year they’re keen to play on.
There was speculation last year that McVeigh could join another club but he signed a one-year contract extension with the Swans.
The 33-year-old is set to either play with Sydney in 2019 or sit in the coaches’ box alongside long-time mentor John Longmire.
McVeigh had been one of Sydney’s best this year, regularly winding the clock back, but broke his collarbone in round 16 and is racing the clock to return before the end of the season.
Grundy faces a more uncertain future.
The 32-year-old, who for so long was an automatic selection, has been left out of the Swans side for the past fortnight and is no certainty to return against Essendon on Friday night.
“These discussions will happen at the appropriate time,” Longmire told reporters.
“That’ll evolve.
“It might happen before then (the end of the season) but it’s not at the forefront of our minds.
“In a six-day break coming up against Essendon, it isn’t the right time to do it.”
The rise of key defender Aliir Aliir, who has gone from strength to strength since his round-13 recall, has come at a bad time for Grundy.
If young backman Lewis Melican is fit and firing next year it could mean even more time in the NEAFL for Grundy, if he stays on the Swans’ books.
Melican has been sidelined since round three because of recurring quad injuries.
Longmire was coy when asked about Grundy’s hopes of facing the Bombers at Etihad Stadium, as the Swans look to bounce back after their upset loss to Gold Coast.
“He’s in contention again this week but we haven’t had a chance to sit down and look at the Bombers in real detail,” Longmire said.
