Saturday’s AFL 2018 Finals Week 1 match is between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:20 local time with the game to be played at SCG. The away team Greater Western Sydney Giants are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
When: 16:20 | Saturday 08/09/2018
Where: SCG
Preview:
This will probably be another low-scoring Sydney derby.
The SCG is the smallest ground in the comp which makes it likely that there’ll be huge congestion around the ball.
Buddy Franklin was great last time they played but his usual match-up Phil Davis got injured in that game.
It won’t be as easy for Buddy against Davis this time.
I’d like to see the Giants go on the attack.
They have offensive weapons across every line and when they’re firing, no team in the comp is capable of stopping them.
In a season marred by injuries, Tim Taranto has been outstanding for the Giants and he’s a good young player who plays an important role.
Pressure will be put on the Giants’ bigger names such as Jeremy Cameron who has been disappointing in finals in the past to step up.
KEY BATTLE: Phil Davis v Buddy Franklin
Davis has a great record on Buddy and will get the big job again.
Davis will let Franklin get the ball outside of 50 but clamp down on him when he moves closer to goal.
If he keeps him to 4 goals or under, I think the Giants win.
The Verdict
Sydney surprisingly have lost 6 games at the SCG this year and I think the Giants have the weapons across the ground to get the win.
GWS has a 9-2 (81.8 percent) record playing within its home state in day matches since 2017.
Unibet Odds:
Sydney at $1.75
GWS $2.10
Odds:
Tip: Greater Western Sydney Giants at $2.05
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Toby Greene at $9.50
More Info:
Teams:
Sydney Swans: 
B: Rampe, Grundy, Lloyd
HB: Newman, Aliir, McVeigh
C: Cunningham, Kennedy, Heeney
HF: Florent, McCartin, Hewett
F: Parker, Franklin, Hayward
FOLL: Sinclair, Jack, Hannebery
I/C: Jones, Papley, Robinson, Ronke
EMG: Cameron, Dawson, Marsh, Towers
IN: Parker, Franklin
OUT: Dawson, Fox
Greater Western Sydney Giants: 
B: Matt Buntine, Phil Davis, Harry Perryman
HB: Adam Tomlinson, Nick Haynes, Adam Kennedy
C: Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly
HF: Sam Reid, Harry Himmelberg, Matt de Boer
F: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Zac Langdon
FOLL: Rory Lobb, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel
I/C: Brett Deledio, Zac Williams, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto
IN: Toby Greene, Brett Deledio, Matt de Boer, Zac Williams
OUT: Jeremy Finlayson, Lachlan Keeffe, Daniel Lloyd, Aiden Bonar (omitted)
EMG: Aiden Bonar, Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Keeffe, Daniel Lloyd
AFL News:
Star Sydney duo Lance Franklin and Luke Parker are set to overcome groin niggles in time to face GWS in their AFL elimination final at the SCG.
The pair were late withdrawals from the Swans side that suffered a nine-point loss to Hawthorn at the SCG last week, a defeat that cost them a top-four berth.
On Monday, John Longmire told reporters Franklin could have played against the Hawks but would’ve risked his place in the finals series if he further aggravated a groin strain.
The duo will complete individual programs this week, then join the main group early next week as the Swans ramp up their preparation for the do-or-die clash with their cross-town rivals.
“We think we’re every chance to get them back next week,” Longmire said.
“We expect them both to do some training next week so we’re really looking forward to that.
“Maybe (Lance could have played last week) if there weren’t any finals afterwards, if that makes sense, because he probably would have hurt himself and been sore after.
“We considered that going into the game and the risks were just too great.
“(But) Lance has already had a jog on the treadmill and pulled up quite well, and he’ll do a bit more on Friday, and Parker is similar to that.”
Dan Hannebery suffered a nasty corked thigh against the Hawks but is not considered in any doubt to play against the Giants.
The Swans have maintained their record of playing finals every year since Longmire took over in 2011.
That run looked in big trouble late in the season when they lost form and four out of five games only to storm home with three wins and a loss against quality opposition.
“We’ve played four teams that are playing finals over the last month and we’ve been right in the hunt in all of those games,” Longmire said.
“We’re back to that real hard pressure football that we like to play.
“… I’m really pleased that we’re able to keep playing finals … it’s not an easy thing to do. It’s very tough to do when you’ve got equalisation.
“I’m very pleased to coach a group like this, which is a pretty fierce competitive group that wants to give themselves every chance every year.”
