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The Sydney Swans will look to climb back into the top four when they meet North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium to open the AFL’s Sunday fixture.
The Roos (2-17, 54.9%) are coming off a 48-point loss to Essendon to continue the rebuilding club’s disappointing season as it now hopes to salvage something out of its remaining games.
The Swans (13-6, 126.5%) have produced strong form in recent weeks, winning their last four games to re-emerge in the premiership conversation for many pundits and commentators.
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North Melbourne defender Ben McKay was a late out, replaced by Josh Walker in the 22, with Flynn Perez (Kangaroos) and Ben Ronke (Swans) named medical subs.
It came on a weekend that the Kangaroos celebrated their 1996 premiership reunion after the pandemic disrupted the 15-year anniversary in 2021.
And in fantastic scenes for Roos fans and the AFL world at large, Ben Cunnington made his VFL return against Sydney earlier on Sunday.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
First quarter
The Roos started the game in promising fashion in a competitive first 10 minutes, but the Swans struck first blood after a classy finish from Errol Gulden.
After missing his first opportunity, Will Hayward made good on his next chance to make it two goals in a row for the visitors.
“Warning signs for North Melbourne, such a variety of talent in this Sydney team,” Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson said.
But Nick Larkey responded at the other end with back-to-back goals to get the Roos right back in it.
North Melbourne stayed hungry for the entirety of the first quarter, with Hudson noting their pressure was “excellent.”
“They’d be proud of the way the Kangaroos are gong right now,” Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy said of the club’s 1996 premiership side watching on.
“The pressure is right up, this is the hardest I’ve seen the Kangaroos work for a long time, it’s really impressive.”
Making major headlines this week amid conjecture around his future, Buddy Franklin booted a timely goal just before the quarter time break to see the Swans lead by 17 points, 4.5 (29) to 2.0 (12).
Second quarter
Both clubs squandered early opportunities in the second term including a dubious call after Todd Goldstein touched the ball on the goal line.
Callum Coleman-Jones then nailed an important set shot for the Roos, while Larkey followed it up with another to make it a five-point game as North fans roared loud as Marvel Stadium.
“You’ve got to take your hats off to the Kangaroos right now, they’re playing really good football, they’re challenging the Swans. The Swans are making some unusual errors.”
Hudson added: “Every Kangaroos player playing their part right now.”
The Swans pushed later in the term but couldn’t hit the scoreboard, with the Roos desperately defending every attacking entry.
Tom Papley finally broke the Sydney deadlock, kicking a goal off the ground on the goal line, but Larkey near instantly responded at the other end with his fourth major of the game in a massive first half.
Seemingly in the blink of an eye Sydney hut straight back with the next three goals including two to Sam Reid to extend its lead to a game-high 26 points.
“Just highlighting the loss of McKay, they’ve (the Kangaroos) been beaten one-on-one too often now (in defence) … if McKay was there I think it would be a different tale,” Healy said.
Hudson added: “They really have upped the ante the Swans in the last 10 minutes or so and it shows on the scoreboard.”
The Swans led by 27 points at half-time, 8.10 (58) to 5.1 (31).
Third quarter
Larkey got the Roos off to the perfect start in the third quarter after getting a free kick for in the back to put in his fifth goal of the day, while Cameron Zurhaar made it two majors in a row to bring it back to a 15-point deficit.
The third term was very much an arm wrestle as neither side could get momentum, while Aaron Hall nailed a long-range goal on the run in one of the highlights of the game.
“They’re right in this the Kangaroos,” Healy said.
After getting beaten by Aidan Corr in their last two one-on-one contests, Franklin ran around two Roos defenders and kicked a brilliant snap goal with his non-preferred right foot as Swans fans erupted.
Felloe star forwards Isaac Heeney and Papley kicked two more goals to blow the Swans’ lead back out to 32 points.
“Their big guns up forward have responded,” Hudson said.
Sydney took 46-point lead into thee-quarter time, 14.15 (99) to 8.5 (53).
Fourth quarter
Larkey kicked the opening goal of the fourth quarter to bring up his equal season-best sixth major for the day in a great performance from the gun forward.
Chad Warner hit back with his third goal at the other end in another blistering showing from the rising star.
Larkey brought up his equal carer-best seventh goal later in the term in a day out from the Roos forward.
The Swans then really upped the ante later in the quarter including Franklin capitalising on a costly turnover from Jaidyn Stephenson, who turned his back on the Swans champion to allow him to run into an open goal.
“A calamity from Jaidyn Stephenson, and he compounded that by not looking,” Hudson said.
This match gets underway at 1.10pm AEST from Marvel Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 1pm AEST.
Follow North Melbourne v Sydney in our live blog below!
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