Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's clash with Sydney on Sunday. 

SYDNEY v ESSENDON 

Sunday, June 14
3:35pm AEST
SCG
Live on Channel Seven 

THE HISTORY

Games played (includes South Melbourne) - 222
Won – 132
Lost – 89
Drawn – 1 

THREE QUICK FACTS

1. Breaking the SCG hoodoo

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd was spearheading the forward line in his final year when the Bombers’ last won at the SCG. That victory came in round 15, 2009, with seven clashes at the ground since falling the Swans’ way. 

2. Walla’s 80 on the trot

The possibility of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti missing a game of footy just felt strange. The livewire forward is one of the most durable players in the competition after all, missing just one match out of a possible 91 since his debut year in 2016. Having been named despite rolling an ankle on the track at the weekend, he’ll take his place in the line-up alongside another durable Bomber in Zach Merrett, who will chalk up his 50^th consecutive game.

3. Townsend goes full circle

Jacob Townsend made his AFL debut in Greater Western Sydney’s inaugural game in round one, 2012 against Sydney. Eight years and 49 games later, he’ll play his 50^th AFL match against the same opponent alongside his former Giants teammates Devon Smith and Dylan Shiel, who also took to the field that day.

LAST TIME WE MET

In the first match between the sides at the MCG in 15 years, the Bombers held on for a gritty 10-point win in round 16 last season. David Zaharakis stepped up in the absence of late withdrawal Dyson Heppell to kick a game-high three goals, while Dylan Shiel polled three Brownlow votes. Sydney entered the clash with five wins from its past seven encounters, while Essendon was also in a rich vein of form that would see it lose just once between rounds 11 and 18.

FORM 

Essendon
Round one: Defeated Fremantle 9.9 (63) to 8.9 (57) at Marvel Stadium 

The Bombers came firing out of the blocks to gain the early ascendancy, but the fast-finishing Dockers had Essendon supporters on the edge of their seats until the final siren. Tom Cutler and Jacob Townsend made their club debuts, with the latter booting three goals in a depleted forward line. Devon Smith was back to his ferocious best after a long injury layoff, while Dylan Shiel’s 35 disposals had him leading the competition after round one.

Sydney
Round one: Defeated Adelaide 11.8 (74) to 11.5 (71) at Adelaide Oval

Like the Bombers, the Swans held off a fast-finishing opponent to prevail in a thriller interstate. Isaac Heeney took the limelight with four goals in the absence of superstar forward Lance Franklin, while ruckman Sam Naismith made a fairytale return after missing the past two seasons through injury. Sydney smashed Adelaide in contested possessions (136-119), clearances (46-25) and centre clearances (20-5) to lead the League in all those categories.

TEAMS

Essendon

In: Heppell, Hooker, McKernan

Out: Fantasia (quad), Zerk-Thatcher (suspension), Laverde (omitted)

Sydney

In: Hewett, Sinclair

Out: Ronke (omitted), Naismith (hamstring)

BOMBER TO WATCH 

Devon Smith

You can always brace for a largely contested game of footy on the tight confines of the SCG, and with the possibility of a wet deck, expect a player like Devon Smith to revel in the conditions. The feisty, uncompromising midfielder has unfinished business after missing the majority of 2019, and didn’t miss a beat during the COVID-19 lockdown and return to training. 

DANGEROUS OPPONENT

Isaac Heeney

Sydney’s attacking half looks more dynamic this season, having added smalls Sam Gray (Port Adelaide) and Lewis Taylor (Brisbane) during the off-season to complement agile forwards Tom Papley, Nick Blakey, Will Hayward and Tom McCartin. Even without the injured Lance Franklin, the Swans have goalkicking options, with Isaac Heeney the jewel in the crown. Spending more time in the forward 50 in round one, Heeney was lethal with a game-high four goals, proving to be the focal point his side needed. The Bombers simply must stop him.

FIVE TALKING POINTS

1. A preparation like no other 

Can you believe it’s almost been three months since the Bombers defeated the Dockers in round one? It’d be the understatement of the year to say a lot has happened in the lead-up to round two, but let’s just say we’re over the moon to have footy back.

It remains to be seen which sides will emerge the strongest from the COVID-19 lockdown and mini pre-season, and then there are the added unknowns around the effects of interstate travel. 

Due to strict protocols, the Bombers will share an early morning flight to Sydney with North Melbourne on Sunday, spending the lead-up to the mid-afternoon game in a hotel. It’s a significant change to the usual interstate routine, which allows players to better acclimatise by flying the day before a game and having a light training session on the ground they’ll play on. 

2. Returning duo

Sunday will mark 283 days and a significant haircut between games for captain Dyson Heppell, who last donned the sash in the elimination final loss to West Coast. Having managed a foot injury in the latter stages of last season, the 28-year-old is fit and raring to go after off-season surgery.

He’ll be joined by fellow Crichton medallist Cale Hooker, who also went under the knife between seasons and hasn’t pulled on a Bombers guernsey since the elimination final.

3. History against the Bombers 

Can Essendon finally taste victory at the SCG again? It’s been 11 years since it last happened, with the ground unfortunately a scene of heartbreak, and controversy, for the Bombers in recent years (need we mention ‘Rampe Gate’ again?). 

With two of the past three clashes between the sides at the SCG decided by less than a goal, are the Bombers finally due some luck?

4. What impact will Lance Franklin’s absence have?

Lance Franklin has kicked more goals against Essendon than any other side in his illustrious career, so Bombers fans will sleep a little easier on Saturday night. The superstar’s absence, along with fellow tall Sam Reid, means the Swans will roll with a smaller, more dynamic forward line. Aliir Aliir may pinch-hit in the ruck to allow Callum Sinclair to rest inside attacking 50, but outside of that, Tom McCartin (193cm) looms as the Swans’ only tall, stay-at-home forward.

5. Can the Bombers get their run and carry going? 

We know the Bombers love to launch from half-back through the corridor with their leg speed, but this isn’t a ground typically suited to that style. The Swans, who favour one-on-one footy, will try to block space and make it a contested game on the tighter confines of the SCG, but will Essendon be able to work its way through the maze?

The Bombers ranked first for uncontested possessions in round one, while the Swans led the competition for contested possessions. A small sample size, yes, but there are definitely contrasting styles here.

Essendon held firm when it mattered on Sunday, withholding a series of gallant Sydney fightbacks to secure a steadfast wire-to-wire victory that kept its unbeaten start to the season intact. 

The Bombers led from the outset at the SCG, but were never able to put the Swans to the sword and were instead made to defend valiantly in the dying stages to secure a nervous six-point victory.

Essendon's 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) win continued the two sides' tradition of closely fought encounters, with Darcy Parish's stunning late goal proving the difference and ensuring the visitors would return to Victoria with the spoils.

Zach Merrett (29 disposals, one goal) and Dylan Shiel (22 disposals, eight clearances) were pivotal in the win, with Jake Lloyd (29 disposals, one goal) and Luke Parker (25 disposals, five clearances) the best for the hosts. 

In a game in which both sides found momentum swings hard to come by, Essendon opened up three separate leads of 20 points in each of the first, second and third quarters only to never extend its advantage beyond that.

It ensured Sydney – which trailed throughout in a largely frustrating display – to nag at the visitors across the course of the afternoon, ultimately reducing the deficit to just eight points at the final change. 

That lead was whittled away to just one point within the final minute of a thrilling clash, before Parish steered home a lovely set shot from the boundary in the final seconds of the game to seemingly seal a crucial four points for the Bombers.

However, the Swans had one last chance to get something from the contest, only for James Rowbottom's late effort to drift agonisingly against the post to condemn the hosts to a disappointing defeat.

Swans, Bombers continue nail-biting tradition

They don't mind playing out a thriller, do they? Essendon's one-point victory on Sunday continued a history of brilliant battles between these two sides. There's been David Myers' shot falling short after the siren in a five-point Swans win in 2019, Gary Rohan's goal after the siren in a one-point Swans win in 2017, Lewis Jetta guiding the Swans home by four points in 2012, Adam Goodes missing a shot after the siren in a one-point Bombers win in 2011, and Jude Bolton sealing a dramatic five-point Swans victory earlier in that same 2011 season. And that's just from the last decade. Sunday's encounter – and Darcy Parish's confident, late match-winning goal – now adds to the fantastic history between these two teams.

Bombers' barometer working up to speed

No player reflects Essendon's fortunes quite like Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. Arguably the side's biggest barometer, the exciting forward helped the visitors build a 20-point lead at the first change when he kicked his second goal from his second disposal in the 11th minute mark of the opening term. However, perhaps still battling the ankle injury that had put him in doubt to make the trip to the SCG, McDonald-Tipungwuti then didn't see the footy again for more than two quarters. Pushed into successive centre bounces in an effort to inject him into the action midway through the third term, he eventually got his third disposal of the game at the 15th minute mark of the quarter. He finished with seven touches and a crucial late clearance, but will improve as his fitness builds.

Big injuries give Swans big opportunities

There were concerns over Sydney's forward line heading into round one, with Lance Franklin (hamstring), Sam Reid (calf) and Ben Ronke (knee) giving coach John Longmire a host of headaches. But the lack of those influential targets actually gave Sydney an air of unpredictability going forward, as the side relied more heavily on smaller options. Isaac Heeney's leap enabled him to play above his height, young duo Nick Blakey and Tom McCartin provided the taller options, while smaller pair Tom Papley and Lewis Taylor ensured Essendon couldn't rebound without pressure. Injury setbacks provided those Swans with an opportunity, and they certainly stepped up on Sunday – the five aforementioned players combining for nine important goals across the afternoon. 

SYDNEY           2.0     5.3     9.4     11.7 (73)
ESSENDON     5.2     6.3    10.6    12.7 (79) 

GOALS
Sydney: Taylor 3, Papley 3, Blakey, McCartin, Sinclair, Heeney, Lloyd
Essendon: Stringer 3, McKernan 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Smith, Merrett, Langford, Parish

BEST

Sydney: Lloyd, Parker, Florent, Rampe, Kennedy, Dawson
Essendon: Merrett, McGrath, Shiel, Langford, Parish, Stringer 

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Essendon: Nil