SCG will play host to Friday's AFL game between Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide. The game kicks off at 7:40 pm with Sydney Swans heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Sydney Swans vs. Port Adelaide game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday September 20, 2024 at 7:40 pm

Where: SCG

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide Odds

Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide Preview

Last week, Port Adelaide became the 12th team to lose a Qualifying Final by 50+ points and win the Semi the next week.

The other part of that statistic? Not one of those 11 teams before them has gone on to win the Preliminary Final.

What does work in the Power’s favour coming into this Preliminary Final at the SCG, is that they demolished the Swans by 112 points only six weeks ago.

Since then, the Swans have gone unbeaten, winning their past four games by an average of 20 points.

Fascinatingly, the Power has not lost at the SCG since 2016, winning the past three games at the venue, and more importantly, the past eight games against the Swans, which is going completely under the radar.

Delving into the analytical side of the game, the Power ultimately need to replicate their gameplan against the Hawks onto the Swans.

Sydney plays a very high risk, high reward style, capitalising off turnover and exposing opposition through the corridor.

Port Adelaide reduced the Hawks score from turnover and really made them work for their opportunities forward of centre with their tackle pressure.

The Power have proven when they switch off, they are extremely vulnerable defensively, which the Swans will prey on, and even against the Hawks, they only won by three points with nine more inside 50s.

Port Adelaide’s midfield crop smashed Sydney in stoppages last time out, and the Power’s mix of uncontested and contested midfielders allows for a versatile mix in every stoppage around the ground.

Sydney’s issue is a lack of pressure defensively, and they’ve been beaten in uncontested possession in the back half of the year, giving opposition easier looks.

Like for like the Swans pack more punch, especially in the forward half with more dazzle in crucial moments.

Having home advantage plays a massive role for the Swans, proven in their comeback against the Giants, it feels as though they’re never out of it.

Willie Rioli and Mitch Georgiades had big days out last time, so the Swans will put a lot of effort into those two, which does eradicate quite a lot of the problem.

Where Sydney has the upper edge is their elite endurance runners, especially Chad Warner and Jake Lloyd who amass over 600 metres gained with the footy on average, a massive task to ask for a Power side worn out after two hard weeks of finals footy.

A lot of people are writing the Power off, but statistics don’t suggest they will even lose this game to begin with.

While statistics do lean towards the Power, history doesn’t when it comes to going the long way, and a final in Sydney is an extremely hard place to do it.