Sydney Cricket Ground

Sunday May 18th 2003 1:10PM AEST

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Geelong	Sydney
In: Slade, Gardiner, S. Johnson,t McCarthy Out: Hunt (injured) B: Harley, Scarlett, Sanderson HB: D.Johnson, Rooke, Milburn C: Wojcinski, Enright, Kelly HF: Clarke, Graham, Chapman F: Ablett, Kingsley, Riccardi FOLL: King, Corey, Ling I/C (from): Grgic, Slade, Chambers, Gardiner, S.Johnson, McCarthy, Bartel	In: Roberts-Thomson, Stevens, Sundqvist Out: Nil B: Mathews, Schauble, C.Bolton HB: Barry, Saddington, Kennelly C: Fosdike, Maxfield, Kirk HF: Williams, Goodes, J.Bolton F: O’Loughlin, Hall, Davis FOLL: Ball, Crouch, Cresswell I/C (from): Meiklejohn, Powell, Roberts-Thomson, Schneider, Stevens, Sundqvist, Warfe
GEELONG Captain, Steven King	SWANS Captain, Stuart Maxfield

This Sunday the 16th placed Geelong travel interstate again to face the in form Sydney Swans. While Geelong have won only one game out of the first seven rounds, a 40-point thrashing of Melbourne, the Swans have knocked off Collingwood and Brisbane the last two weeks. On paper, the Cats look set to continue the trend of teams playing in Perth one week, and dropping the next game. But Geelong do have a good record in Sydney, not having lost at the SCG since 1998. The Cats have shown some signs the last two weekends that they can be competitive. Whether that is enough to defeat the Swans at the SCG remains to be seen.

At the SCG last season in Round 12, Sydney farewelled champion Wayne Schwass from AFL football. On that occasion Geelong spoiled the party, coming from 28 points behind in the final quarter to win by 2 points. Also making his final appearance in that game was Tony Lockett, while ageing champion Paul Kelly also took the field. The coaching staff at Sydney has changed dramatically, with Paul Roos making perhaps the best debut (coaching) of the modern era. Indeed, Roos never breaks a sweat, not even when the Brisbane Lions surged back to within a couple of goals on Sunday.

To cut a long story short, Geelong will have to play above themselves to knock off the Swans. But with the youngest side in the AFL they are so inconsistent, they could just pull off an upset. Last week Geelong's best were Joel Corey, Paul Chapman, Cameron Ling, Jarad Rooke and Steven King. If players like Peter Riccardi, Ben Graham, Gary Ablett and Kent Kingsley fire against the Swans, Geelong is in with a chance.

LAST FIVE GAMES:

R8 Sydney 6.3 11.5 17.12 21.15.141 defeated Geelong 14.4 8.10 9.14 14.16 100 L Kardinia Park 21581 16-May-1999
R7 Geelong 2.3 8.6 12.7 15.9 99 defeated Sydney 3.3 7.3 15.3 17.6 108 W S.C.G. 27040 22-Apr-2000
R22 Geelong 5.3 11.5 15.9 18.12 120 defeated Sydney 5.6 11.8 16.13 18.16 124 W Kardinia Park 26011 05-Aug-2000
R13 Geelong 3.3 5.7 6.9 9.11 65 defeated Sydney 2.5 5.10 10.12 12.12 84 W S.C.G. 26760 01-Jul-2001
R12 Geelong 4.4 9.4 11.6 15.9 99 defeated Sydney 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.11 101 W S.C.G. 21767 15-Jun-2002

Tip? Swans by 39 points.