Swans, Cats lock in final teams. Follow LIVE from 3.20pm AEST

14 days ago

AFL

Follow all the action from Sunday's round 13 games

Oliver Florent marks during Sydney's clash against Geelong in round 13, 2024. Picture: Getty Images

HIGH-FLYING Sydney returns to action with a clash against Geelong at the SCG on Sunday.

The Swans (10-1) might not have wanted to take a break with a second bye of the season as their rollicking momentum had built up seven wins on the trot.

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But it would be a shock if the Swans did anything other than pick up where they left off as the one side that has looked like the real deal all season, especially in front of a packed crowd that has enjoyed watching wins in all five home matches by an average of 37 points.

Geelong (8-4) took time to rein in then overrun Richmond and snap its own four-match losing streak but now faces a trickier test against frontrunner Sydney.

The Cats remain precariously placed in third but could pull to within one win of the Swans in top spot as well as claim the League's biggest scalp with a victory ahead of their bye.

The Swans have made just one change with Tom McCartin returning to replace Aaron Francis, while the Cats regain Mark Blicavs, Rhys Stanley and Jhye Clark, who replace injured trio Oliver Henry, Zach Tuohy and Toby Conway.

Sydney v Geelong at the SCG, 3.20pm AEST

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SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Braeden Campbell
Geelong: Gary Rohan

Essendon (8-3-1) had its unbeaten streak snapped at seven matches as it failed to make the most of its chances in the loss to Gold Coast last week, ahead of a monster King's Birthday eve clash against Carlton.

The Bombers could rubber stamp their own top-four credentials with a win over the Blues in a battle of the resurgent heavyweights.

BOMBERS v BLUES Follow it LIVE

Carlton (8-4) is now just two points behind old foe Essendon in second spot after three wins over finals contenders Melbourne, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide in its past four matches.

The new-look Blues have even been smashing long-standing hoodoos like winning at Adelaide Oval, and now seem primed to launch into the top four ahead of their bye.

The Bombers welcome back Todd Goldstein and Will Setterfield in place of Mason Redman (hamstring) and Nick Bryan (omitted), while Corey Durdin is in for the Blues with Orazio Fantasia (shoulder) out injured.