Is GWS tough enough to overcome the Sydney Swans’ spirit in elimination final?

A STATISTICAL case could be made for Sydney to be the worst team in the finals, but the Swans win through endeavour, passion and an unwavering team-first attitude — nothing you’ll see on a stats sheet. DAVID KING ponders if the Giants are tough enough.

There will be blood.

There is nothing more certain throughout this final series as this genuine rivalry — even hatred — that builds to an elimination final climax between Sydney and GWS tomorrow afternoon.

Are the Giants tough enough? Are they 120 minutes of game-time tough?

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Expect Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy to get physical with the Giants in the clinches. Picture: Toby Zerna

If the answer is yes, then continue to week two of the 2018 AFL finals series.

Statistically the Sydney Swans aren’t in the fight.

In fact a case could be made that they’re the poorest of the finals teams across all key success indicators, including an attack rated 12th in the competition and a defence rated seventh.

But the Swans win consistently through endeavour, passion and an unwavering team-first attitude, nothing you’ll see on a computer screen.

This final will be a last-man standing affair that will test the physical and mental toughness of both teams.

Sydney will drag this contest into the trenches to make a messy, contest-after-contest grind

with congestion aplenty as Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and George Hewett eyeball Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Shiel.

The Giants are the AFL’s most damaging clearance team but were humbled only a few ago by the Swans.

Late in that game the Swans made the Giants look tentative as they failed Denis Pagan’s legendary “one-metre test”, where the ball is in contest, one metre in-between a Swan and a Giant.

The Swans mauled them which is a reality that would not have been lost on Leon Cameron.

Expect a response.

Can Giants Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield break free? Picture: Phil Hillyard

The ball movement of the Giants has always been their most prevalent asset but John Longmire will not allow Josh Kelly or Lachie Whitfield to roam around unaccounted for.

And expect George Hewett and Daniel Robinson to try to negate the Giants influential kickers.

Phil Davis will have his work cut out trying to stifle the influence of Lance Franklin as per normal with each having success over the past three years.

Goal returns of 2, 0, 2, 4, 2 and 1 in 40-odd minutes last time highlights the competitiveness of this clash.

If Sydney gets that 55 inside 50s that GWS have been allowing their opposition lately then Franklin will hit the scoreboard heavily.

Rory Lobb’s contested marking could separate this game.

Twenty-eight contested marks in is first 13 games this season but only two over the last month of football.

The Giants are flying when Lobb is clunking marks and he must challenge Callum Sinclair by rushing into the forward 50 with the intent to mark and score.

Isaac Heeney is the Sydney Swans’ utility type who is doing it all in every position that John Longmire demands.

Is it time for the Giants to tag Isaac Heeney? Picture: Michael Klein

Over the last three weeks, Heeney has laid 24 tackles and kicked four goals while still being among the Swans’ top five for clearances and contested possessions.

Is it time to tag Heeney?

Has Leon Cameron gone all Kenny Rogers aka “The Gambler”?

How many risks are too many?

In what will be a confrontational, contested game, can these inclusions impact to the levels required?

Toby Greene has had a chequered season with only seven games this year, but we know he can hit the ground running, like his four goal, Round 1 performance after a poor pre season period.

Brett Deledio has played 27 games in 3 years, but don’t fool yourself into thinking he’s still a goalscoring threat.

Only 18 goals in that period and lately he’s generally playing midfield/wing.

Add the returning pressure player Matt De Boer and the first game for Zac Williams for 2018, the risks are stacking up.

This will be a brutal final, not a skill execution procession.

Who will be tougher for longer?

Trust over talent, Swans by two goals.

Is Brett Deledio a risk worth taking for the Giants? Picture: Brett Costello