Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 17 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Sydney Swans. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Sydney Swans.
When: 15:20 | Sunday 15/07/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
Roos coach Brad Scott has called on the AFL to fix the protected area after confusing 50m penalties and I have to agree with him as it’s the worst rule in football.
Ben Brown is on track to deliver North Melbourne its first Coleman Medal since John Longmire.
He’s an amazing player and the Swans’ ability to matchup on him will probably decide the outcome of this game.
Sam Reid and Lewis Melican were due to return against the Kangaroos but will now undergo season-ending surgery.
The Swans have been smashed by injuries this week and it will cost them a top four spot.
Sydney get a 10-day break leading up to this match and its a little advantage but long breaks are overrated in my opinion.
KEY BATTLE: Buddy Franklin v Scott Thompson
This should be a great one.
The Verdict
It’s a tough one to call but I think Sydney just.
The Swans have a 16-13-1 (53.3 percent) record playing as an away team after a loss since 2010.
Unibet Odds:
North Melbourne at $2.05
Sydney at $1.80
Odds:
Tip: Sydney Swans at $1.84
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Lance Franklin at $7.50
More Info:
Teams:
North Melbourne Kangaroos: 
B: Wright, Thompson, Williams
HB: Macmillan, Tarrant, McDonald
C: Ahern, Jacobs, Dumont
HF: Atley, Ziebell, Anderson
F: Simpkin, Brown, Turner
FOLL: Goldstein, Cunnington, Higgins
I/C (from): Daw, Hrovat, Davies-Uniacke, Clarke, Murphy, Larkey, Morgan, Walker
IN: Davies-Uniacke, Morgan, Larkey, Walker, Murphy
OUT: Zurhaar
Sydney Swans: 
B: Smith, Grundy, Rampe
HB: Fox, Aliir, Lloyd
C: Florent, Kennedy, Hayward
HF: Hewett, Franklin, Cunningham
F: Ronke, McCartin, Papley
FOLL: Sinclair, Parker, Heeney
I/C (from): Cameron, Jones, Marsh, Newman, Towers, O’Riordan, Robinson, Rohan
IN: Papley, Heeney, Cameron, Marsh, Newman, O’Riordan, Rohan
OUT: McVeigh, Jack, Hannebery
AFL News:
Sydney’s injury crisis has worsened, with Sam Reid booked in for Achilles surgery that could spell the end of his AFL season.
Reid hasn’t played since round three but was set to return from a quad injury on Sunday, when the Swans clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Instead the key forward, who has been restricted to 121 games in eight seasons because of a series of injuries, suffered a fresh setback last Saturday in the NEAFL.
Reid and Lewis Melican, who also hasn’t played at AFL level in three months, will both go under the knife on Tuesday.
Coach John Longmire expects Reid to be sidelined for six weeks, while Melican will be out for eight weeks because of his recurring hamstring problem.
Given the pair’s trouble this year, a lot will have to go right for either of them to play again in 2018.
The untimely setbacks come after the Swans recorded their lowest score of the season in an upset loss to Geelong, during which veterans Jarrad McVeigh (broken collarbone), Dan Hannebery (calf strain) and Kieren Jack (medial strain) all suffered injuries.
“We reviewed the game and one of the things I said at the end of the meeting was it’s not about the players we haven’t got, it’s about the players we have got,” Longmire told reporters on Monday.
“It was an interesting nine days from our Richmond game through to our reserves game on the weekend, I think we lost eight senior players.
“Our challenge is now to suck it up and get on with it … you roll up your sleeves.
“You’ve just got to have that resilience.”
McVeigh’s surgery went well last Friday, leaving Longmire confident the 314-game champion will extend his decorated career in the red and white.
Jack remains a chance of facing the Kangaroos, while Hannebery will be out of action for a month.
“It’s tough for him (Hannebery), physically and mentally, he wants to be out there helping our players,” Longmire said.
“They’re all disappointed, but you just have to get on with it.”
In more positive news for the Swans, Isaac Heeney (concussion) and Tom Papley (hip) are both in line to return against North.
Longmire confirmed Irishman Colin O’Riordan, who has been with the club since 2015, is in the mix to debut.
“He’d be a chance regardless of the injuries,” Longmire said.
“He works really hard on his game. He’s a good two-way player. He’s incredibly enthusiastic and he runs hard.”