All eyes turn to the SCG [well some, considering there are two games on] as the Battle of the Bridge between the GIANTS and the Swans takes centre stage.
Swans vs GIANTS
Friday, April 17 at 7:40pm
SCG | Gadigal Country
What It Means for the GIANTS
The GIANTS regained some of their mojo in Sunday’s 56-point win over the Tigers in the Barossa but now they’ll face their biggest test yet in the form of the red-hot Swans.
While there were some moments of inconsistency against the Tigers, the GIANTS showcased passages of their surging best at Gather Round - highlighted by their blistering eight-goal opening term.
Plenty of GIANTS either continued their strong form or regained it against the Tigers and will be hoping to carry that over against their crosstown rival, with Finn Callaghan (37 disposals), Clayton Oliver (31 disposals), Toby Greene (29 disposals) and Lachie Ash (35 disposals) all brilliant, while Jesse Hogan (two goals), Jake Stringer (21 disposals, 1.2) and the returning Brent Daniels (14 disposals, three goals) were all dangerous in the front half.
The GIANTS will unfortunately be without Aaron Cadman - who starred with four goals in his return game - and Stephen Coniglio against the Swans due to concussions suffered in separate incidents against the Tigers.
Sitting at 2-3 and with city bragging rights on the line, the GIANTS will be hoping the performance against Richmond was a fire-starter to their season as they aim to upset the Swans on their home deck in what’s sure to be a spicy Sydney Derby on Friday night.
The Opposition
The Swans will enter Friday’s Derby sitting pretty atop the ladder as one or the league’s early flag favourites.
Outside of their one loss - a 17-point defeat to the Hawks in round two - the Swans have looked clinical in the early goings of the 2026 season, with impressive victories over the Blues, the Lions, the Eagles, and the Suns to sit top spot on the ladder with a monster percentage of 175.5
In their most recent outing the Swans got off to a strong start against the Gold Coast in Gather Round and never looked back on their way to a relatively comfortable 32-point win.
It was the usual suspects who got the job done for the Swans, with Isaac Heeney leading the way with 33 disposals and two goals, while Justin McInerney (27 disposals, one goal), Tom Papley (17 disposals, 3.3), and Chad Warner (22 disposals, 2.2) were extremely influential.
Playing at home at the SCG for the first time in nearly a month, the Swans will be hoping for nothing more than a win over the GIANTS to continue their fast start to season 2026.
Recent History
While the Swans have won four out of the last five meetings between the sides, it was Adam Kingsley's men who claimed a remarkable 44-point win the last time the team’s faced off in round 20 last season.
Down by 28 at the half after an extremely sluggish start, the GIANTS went on an incredible 12-goal-to-one run after the main break to blow the Swans out of the water en route to a 15.12 (102) to 8.10 (58) victory at ENGIE Stadium.
Callaghan (21 disposals, one goal) claimed the Brett Kirk Medal as best on ground after a stellar showing in the middle, while Stringer (13 disposals, three goals) led the way in attack as the GIANTS displayed arguably their best half of footy shown under Kingsley’s reign.
Key Match Up: Nick Madden vs Brodie Grundy
Nick Madden was brought into the GIANTS’ side last week for just his fourth AFL appearance and certainly made the most of it, with a strong showing against the Tigers' debutant ruckman Oliver Hayes-Brown.
However, the hulking youngster will now face one of the biggest tests a ruckman can face in footy: Swans superstar Brodie Grundy.
One of the league’s top ruckman for more than a decade, Grundy has started his 2026 campaign in stellar form and will be hoping to use every bit of his 247-game experience against a player with less than a handful of games to his name on Friday night.
Often compared to Grundy due to his similar look and playing style, Madden will be hoping to rise to the occasion against one of the league’s top ruckmen to back up his impressive 16-disposal, 43-hit-out, seven-tackle, five-clearance outing against Richmond last week.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Phoenix Gothard
Fresh off a new two-year deal, Gothard is in line to appear in his first Sydney Derby on Friday night if named in Adam Kingsley’s side.
Having toiled away on the sidelines and in the VFL for his first two seasons, a fit and healthy Gothard was given his AFL debut in Opening Round and hasn’t looked back with several strong performances as a pressure small forward.
While the likes of Hogan, Daniels and Stringer will capture most of the spotlight in the GIANTS’ front half, keep an eye out for Gothard as he continues to impress despite his inexperience.
In The Mix:
The GIANTS will be forced to make at least two changes to last week’s winning side, with Cadman and Coniglio both to miss through concussions.
Despite the forced changes, there’s plenty of AFL talent waiting in the wings for their opportunity to take on the Swans, with the likes of Harry Rowston, Toby McMullin, Joey Delana, Callum Brown, and Max Gruzewski lead a long list of names sure to come into consideration.
Team Selection:
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Swans on Thursday at 6:20pm at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report:
Get a full injury update ahead of Friday’s match here.
