Sydney will have to be at its absolute best if it wants to keep its Smithy’s VFL finals hopes alive after Collingwood named a powerful team for their clash at Tramway Oval on Friday.
The Magpies have selected AFL regulars Harvey Harrison, Oleg Markov and Nathan Kreuger, as well as reigning VFL Coaches MVP Lachie Sullivan and cricket convert Wil Parker for the afternoon showdown.
Meanwhile, 205cm Oakleigh Chargers ruckman Boston Dowling will make his debut.
Billy Frampton was recalled to the Magpies’ AFL team for last week’s win over Carlton having played in the Magpies’ last VFL game a fortnight ago and mid-season draftee Iliro Smit is in concussion protocols, while VFL lister Harry Kennedy’s season is over with a foot injury.
The Magpies will head to Sydney with confidence after breaking their 12-match losing streak against Richmond before their bye knowing that the Swans have been poor in their home city, having dropped the past four matches that haven’t involved a trip to the airport.
Sydney, however, has also boosted its team from the line-up that stunned Southport a fortnight ago, with star defender Aaron Francis, forward Sam Wicks and midfielder Corey Warner returning from AFL duty as Caiden Cleary goes the other way, while prolific VFL midfielder Ben Edwards is back from injury.
The Swans also have a debutant in highly rated 195cm Academy key defender Joel Cochran, who is considered a second-round prospect in this year’s draft.
All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast select matches live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7plus nationally. This week’s broadcast match will be Frankston vs Footscray Bulldogs.
SYDNEY SWANS vs COLLINGWOOD
Friday 9 August, 2:05pm, Tramway Oval
Head-to-Head: Sydney 7-4-1; At Tramway: Never Met; Streak: Collingwood 1; Last Time: Collingwood 14.10 (94) def Sydney 9.17 (71) – June 24, 2023, Victoria Park
SYDNEY SWANS
B: W. Green (45), J. Hamling (29), C. Vickery (25)
HB: J. Magor (32), W. Edwards (28), H. Arnold (38)
C: Cor. Warner (37), A. Sheldrick (12), N. Shipley (52)
HF: I. Kirk (31), A. Francis (10), T. Hanily (40)
F: S. Wicks (15), L. McAndrew (46), M. Lloyd (54)
R: P. Ladhams (19), C. Mitchell (35), B. Edwards (50)
INT: J. Endmann (57), M. Geddes (61), J. Cochran (58)*, Ham. Morrison (62), J. Harrison (66)
EMG: B. Laws (64), J. Lugsdin (67), W. Smit (59), B. Ashley-Cooper (51)
IN: J. Cochran, B. Edwards, J. Endemann, A. Francis, Cor. Warner, S. Wicks
OUT: C. Cleary (AFL), B. Ashley-Cooper, H. Birks, B. Laws, P. Moi Moi, W. Smit
NEW: Joel Cochran, 18, 195cm, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs/Swans Academy
COLLINGWOOD
B: R. McInnes (26), C. Dean (43), J. Ryan (24)
HB: O. Markov (37), T. Jiath (19), H. DeMattia (13)
C: H. Mahoney (72), E. Allan (16), W. Parker (45)
HF: N. Krueger (15), J. Longmire (57), J. Eyre (34)
F: A. Johnson (40), B. Crocker (47), H. Harrison (36)
R: B. Dowling (73), L. Sullivan (33), F. Macrae (18)
INT: O. Warburton (80)*, R. Sparkes (51), C. Willis (64), S. Glover (50), C. Lane (48)
EMG: C. Mulvogue (68), T. Wilson (56), R. Penny (62), J. Tomasiello (61), P. Farrant (68), C. Willis (64), J. Hartman (70)
IN: B. Dowling, H. Harrison, N. Krueger, O. Markov, W. Parker, L. Sullivan
OUT: B. Frampton (AFL), H. Kennedy (foot), I. Smit (concussion), C. Mulvogue, A. Seivers, T. Wilson
NEW: Boston Dowling, 19, 205cm, Old Trinity/Oakleigh Chargers/Shepparton/Murray Bushrangers
UMPIRES
FIELD: 10. Chris Brackenrig, 16. Joe O’Brien, 48. Brad Stewart. BOUNDARY: Sam Button, Ben Duce, Scott Hansford, Charlie Powell. GOAL: Nick Ford, Alex Strassberg.
