Good afternoon, it’s Jonathan Drennan here from a beautifully sunny SCG. The temperature is already hovering over 29 degrees and my Irish skin is delighted to be hidden from the sun in the press box.
I am joined by Vince Rugari who will be providing some insights throughout the game. The gang is back together. We’re expecting a decent crowd here with fans filing in two hours before the game.
Obviously, the Swans are going into this qualifying final as considerable underdogs. They are missing Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Nick Blakey as they take on the back-to-back premiers Brisbane with a luxury of depth.
It leaves the Swans with Errol Gulden to conjure up magic in the midfield, but Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry is likely to have a big say in shutting him down.
The Swans do have the capacity to shock, even if it is a long shot: Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow, small forward Tom Papley and defensive midfielder James Rowbottom are not going into this game to lose.
The stage is set in Sydney.