Qualifying Final
Adelaide v Sydney Swans
Saturday, September 8 at 2:45pm (SA time)
AAMI Stadium

Latest news
Sydney recalls key duo
The Swans have recalled Sam Reid and Nick Smith for the Qualifying Final clash with Adelaide, at the expense of Heath Grundy (suspended) and former Crow Tony Armstrong (omitted).

See below for more Sydney news

Out of action (Estimates only)
Ben Reid (gluteal) - Test
Nick Smith (hamstring) - Test
Campbell Heath (ankle) - Test
Mark Seaby (calf) - 1-2 weeks
Gary Rohan (leg) - Season
Shane Biggs (leg) - Season
Tom Mitchell (foot) - Season

Sydney’s recent form
Round 23, Geelong 17.10 (112) d Sydney Swans 11.12 (78), Skilled Stadium
Round 22, Hawthorn 15.12 (102) d Sydney Swans 14.11 (95), SCG
Round 21, Sydney Swans 16.11 (167) d Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85), Etihad Stadium
Round 20, Collingwood 12.6 (78) d Sydney Swans 9.16 (70), ANZ Stadium
Round 19, Sydney Swans 14.9 (93) d Carlton 10.11 (71), Etihad Stadium

Recent form against Adelaide
2012, Round Six, Adelaide 15.9 (99) d Sydney Swans 14.10 (94), SCG
2011, Round 15, Adelaide 8.9 (57) d Sydney Swans 6.14 (50), AAMI Stadium
2010, Round Two, Sydney Swans 18.10 (118) d Adelaide 11.9 (75), AAMI Stadium
2009, Round 13, Adelaide 12.13 (85) d Sydney Swans 10.9 (69), AAMI Stadium
2008, Round 17, Adelaide 11.11 (77) d Sydney Swans 6.17 (53), SCG

Team
B: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Lewis Roberts-Thomson
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Alex Johnson, Martin Mattner
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Dan Hannebery
HF: Jude Bolton, Sam Reid, Ryan O’Keefe
F: Tommy Walsh, Adam Goodes, Myke Pyke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Craig Bird
INT: Nick Smith, Ben McGlynn, Luke Parker, Lewis Jetta
EMERG: Tony Armstrong, Mitch Morton, Jesse White

IN: Sam Reid, Nick Smith
OUT: Heath Grundy (suspended), Tony Armstrong (omitted)

Stats that matter
Adelaide has won 12 of its past 14 matches against the Sydney Swans, including four of the last five.

At the completion of the minor round, star Swan Josh Kennedy topped the League in handballs (350), clearances (164), contested possessions (368); finished second in hard-ball gets (166) behind Crow Patrick Dangerfield (184) and third in loose ball gets (97). Teammate Kieren Jack ranked No.1 in this category (98). Jack also tops the comp in goal assists (26).

After missing the clash with Gold Coast through injury, Taylor Walker was unable to add to his minor-round goal tally. Walker (53 goals) finished seventh in the Coleman Medal, which was won by Richmond star Jack Riewoldt. Walker ranked second in the AFL behind Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin for average goals per game, averaging 3.3. Franklin averaged 3.7 goals a match.

The Qualifying Final between the Crows and Swans will pit to the two best contested possession teams in the competition head to head.

The Swans are the best tackling side in the League, averaging 71.7 a game. Adelaide is 16th (59.3). They also lead the comp in long kicks.

Sydney defender Heath Grundy has rebounded the ball out of his team’s defensive 50m more times (92) than any other player in the league this season.

Livewire Lewis Jetta leads Sydney’s goalkicking, having slotted 40 majors for the season.

News bites
Sydney recalls key duo
The Swans have recalled Sam Reid and Nick Smith for the Qualifying Final clash with Adelaide, at the expense of Heath Grundy (suspended) and former Crow Tony Armstrong (omitted).

Operation Dangerfield - AFL.com.au
"If the Swans are to prevail, they know that getting on top in the midfield, and limiting the supply to the Crows' Taylor Walker and Kurt Tippett, will be vital.
And that starts with trying to curb the influence of Brownlow Medal fancy Patrick Dangerfield. Last time the sides met Dangerfield was unstoppable, particularly after half-time, picking up 30 possessions in Adelaide's five-point win at the SCG ..."

Swans set to shuffle deck - AFL.com.au
LEWIS Roberts-Thomson will reprise the role in which he made his name, tagger Nick Smith will play and Sam Reid could help fill the forward/ruck role when the Sydney Swans face Adelaide on Saturday.

Swans wary of Crows mids - AFL.com.au
Longmire said injured duo Sam Reid (glute) and Nick Smith (hamstring) would do a light training session on Tuesday and were on track to play this week.

The coach also believed the midfield was where the game would be won and lost and had a quick response when asked if Patrick Dangerfield was one player his side would need to contain

Grundy ban stands
Sydney defender Heath Grundy will miss Saturday's Qualifying Final after failing to have a striking ban overturned.

Swans want hostile crowd - AFL.com.au
IF THE Sydney Swans are to earn themselves a home preliminary final in two weeks' time, they must enter the hostile cauldron that is AAMI Stadium and take down an Adelaide side that has lost just once at home all year.
And the Swans can't wait. Three defeats in their last four fixtures have the Swans hitting the road in week one to take on an Adelaide side with an 11-1 record at AAMI Stadium this year, losing only to Collingwood in round nine.

Reid ready for finals - AFL.com.au
THE SYDNEY Swans expect injured key forward Sam Reid and small defender Nick Smith to be available for the qualifying final against Adelaide. Reid pulled up sore at training during the week and was forced to miss the game against the Cats with a minor glute strain.

Swans know what’s to come - AFL.com.au
SYDNEY Swans ruckman Shane Mumford says his side will enter the finals confident they can match it with the best. The Swans dropped games to fellow top-four sides Collingwood and Hawthorn, and in-form reigning premiers Geelong in the past four weeks. It's been a less than ideal preparation for Saturday's qualifying final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Longmire still Crowing - AFL.com.au
WHILE losing on the eve of the finals is never ideal, there is only one appropriate response. And Sydney Swans coach John Longmire was happy to deliver it after the 34-point loss to the Geelong on Saturday at Simonds Stadium meant the club was travelling to Adelaide to play in the qualifying final after finishing third.