Friday’s AFL 2018 Round 8 match is between Hawthorn Hawks and Sydney Swans. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 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 Hawthorn Hawks and Sydney Swans.
When: 19:50 | Friday 11/05/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
Sydney have been up and down and usually they respond well after a loss, so this game will be hot especially early.
Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell needs to be shut down but Sydney don’t have a recognised tagger, so I’d expect them to go head-to-head with Mitchell in the midfield.
I don’t agree with those experts who say the Swans are better without Buddy Franklin as Sydney are much better with him.
KEY BATTLE: Luke Breust v Nick Smith
Breust is the best small forward in the game right now and Smith always get the tough jobs. Should be a ripper.
The Verdict
I think with Sydney’s key players missing and the fact it’s at the MCG suits Hawthorn obviously.
Hawthorn’s Shaun Burgoyne has kicked two goals in each of his last three appearances against the Swans.
Unibet Odds:
Hawthorn at $1.87
Sydney at $1.95
Odds:
OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!
Tip: Sydney Swans at $2.20
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Gary Rohan at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
Hawthorn Hawks
B: Impey, Burton, Frawley
HB: Duryea, Sicily, Hardwick
C: Smith, Shiels, Langford
HF: Mitchell, O’Brien, Gunston
F: Henderson, Roughead, O’Meara
FOLL: McEvoy, Breust, Burgoyne
I/C: Stratton, Howe, Morrison, Whitecross
EMG: Schoenmakers, Brand, Worpel, Cousins
IN: Langford, Henderson
OUT: Cousins, Worpel
Sydney Swans
B: Smith, Grundy, Lloyd
HB: Mills, Rampe, McVeigh
C: Cunningham, Kennedy, Heeney
HF: Hewett, Towers, Florent
F: Hayward, Rohan, Papley
FOLL: Sinclair, Parker, Jack
I/C: Ronke, Jones, McCartin, Robinson
EMG: Aliir, Cameron, Fox, Newman
IN: McCartin, Robinson
OUT: Fox, Marsh
AFL News:
Emerging youngster Will Hayward is providing some cheer for a Sydney AFL side short on forward height and struggling to win at home.
The two-point loss to North Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday was Sydney’s third defeat in four home games.
Asked why Sydney were struggling at what has traditionally been one of the toughest venues for visiting teams, coach John Longmire said: “It’s a whole range of things, various things, each one is different.
“But the reality is you’ve got to find a way to get it done at home and we haven’t done it three times.”
Only a perfect 3-0 away record is keeping the 4-3 Swans in touch and they could slip out of the eight on percentage by the end of the round.
They face a tough assignment against their 2017 bogey side Hawthorn at the MCG next Friday.
One shining light for Sydney is the goal output from 19 -year-old second-season player Hayward.
For the second week running, the clever 186cm Hayward led the Swans goalkickers with three majors and looked dangerous in the air and on the ground.
He has booted 11 goals this season, second most for Sydney behind Lance Franklin.
With tall forwards Franklin and Sam Reid injured, Longmire again had to improvise at the pointy end of his attack on Saturday, with no forward more than 189cms.
Hayward was one of the few specialist forward options available to Longmire, with the likes of midfield gun Luke Parker and 100-game milestone man Gary Rohan also spending time in the forward line on Saturday.
“Hayward was really lively up forward , he was a real target in our front half and was fantastic,” Longmire said.
“At the start of the game we looked at our forward group, we thought we had to put Parker there, because I think Gary (Rohan) was the highest as far as games played with 100.”
“The rest were pretty young, so we put Parker forward and various things, but Will was clearly the standout player in that group.”
Longmire said Franklin (heel) and midfielder Dan Hannebery (groin) each had a run on Friday and were both a 50-50 chance of being fit to face Hawthorn.
The Hawks were the only side to beat Sydney in their 2017 home and away campaign after the Swans lost their first six matches last season.
