The Sydney Swans have their best chance yet to get a win on the board in season 2017 when the host the Brisbane Lions at the SCG early on Sunday afternoon.
The Swans aren’t having a great year – in fact, they’re having a downright terrible year, and coming into this match they’re on the bottom of the ladder.
They’ve lost to some good teams along the way of course, but they’ve also lost to some fairly average teams, like Carlton and Collingwood.
The side has really been exposed for a lack of depth this year and while it’s still a star-studded line-up, the stars haven’t been at their best and the rookies in the mix aren’t contributing enough.
Brisbane on the other hand have had about the kind of form you would’ve expected of them – competitive at times, uncompetitive at others, and too much of the latter to get wins on the board.
They managed to knock off their crosstown rivals Gold Coast in Round 1, but in the time since then they haven’t been able to finish in front in another match, leaving them at a 1-5 record.
They come into this match having lost by 83 points to the Port Adelaide Power at home last week, an embarrassing effort. They’ll be hungry to lift.
Sydney have made five changes – Nic Newman, Brandon Jack and James Rose have all been dropped, Gary Rohan will miss with concussion, and Jeremy Laidler with an Achilles concern.
Jarrad McVeigh will play his first game of the year and they’ve also recalled Aliir Aliir, Sam Naismith, Oliver Florent and Dean Towers.
Brisbane have two changes, both forced – Dayne Beams will miss with a quad injury, Tom Cutler through a hamstring.
Marco Paparone and Jake Barrett are the two players they’re bringing back in.
The Swans you’d think should get on the board here, but at $1.08 they’re practically the unbackable favourites.
When you consider that the Lions haven’t played much worse than Sydney this year, $8 for them to win is remarkably good value and could be worth a flyer.