Understrength Swans face defending champions Lions for right to host preliminary final

The Sydney Swans face Brisbane Lions at the SCG without five key players, leaving them with a major challenge in a qualifying final that will decide who hosts a preliminary final.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice are all absent after Sydney banned them for the rest of the season for breaching team rules following the round 23 match against Essendon. Their absence looms over the contest, even though Sydney has made only one change to its selected side, bringing in Hayden McLean to provide ruck support for Brodie Grundy.

Brisbane has also made one change, with Hugh McCluggage returning in place of Ty Gallop. The Lions enter the match as defending champions, but ABC’s live coverage noted that football games are not decided on paper. Brisbane must avoid assuming that Sydney lacks the players to compete.

The match follows a major upset in Perth, where Hawthorn defeated an undefeated Fremantle side that had been in position to secure a direct home route to the grand final. That result offered a warning to Brisbane, particularly if Sydney starts well, its remaining players respond strongly and the home crowd becomes involved.