Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 18 match is between Sydney Swans and Gold Coast Suns. The opening kick is set to commence at 14:10 local time with the game to be played at SCG. The home team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney Swans and Gold Coast Suns.
When: 14:10 | Saturday 21/07/2018
Where: SCG
Preview:
Young Swans got an important win over the Kangaroos last week.
It was a big win in Melbourne for them and keeps them in touch with the top four.
Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy could miss this match and that would be a big blow but if he’s going to miss a week, this one is a good one to miss and get some rest.
KEY BATTLE: Jarrod Witts v Callum Sinclair
Should be a good battle in the ruck.
The Verdict
Sydney at home are far too experienced and talented for the struggling Suns.
Gold Coast has a 3-23 (8.6 percent) record playing interstate after a loss since 2013.
Unibet Odds:
Sydney Swans at $1.04
Gold Coast Suns at $12.00
Odds:
Tip: Sydney Swans at $1.03
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Luke Parker at $15.00
More Info:
Teams:
Sydney Swans: 
B: Smith, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Cunningham, Rampe, Marsh
C: Jones, Kennedy, Florent
HF: Hayward, Franklin, Parker
F: Papley, McCartin, Ronke
FOLL: Sinclair, Hewett, Heeney
I/C: Cameron, Fox, Newman, O’Riordan
EMG: Grundy, Robinson, Rohan, Towers
IN: Cameron
OUT: Robinson
Gold Coast Suns: 
B: Ah Chee, Thompson, Harbrow
HB: Heron, May, Kolodjashnij
C: Miller, Lonergan, Ballard
HF: Sexton, Wright, Holman
F: Young, Crossley, Lemmens
FOLL: Witts, Brodie, Weller
I/C: Joyce, Powell, Rischitelli, Lyons
EMG: Schoenfeld, Dawson, Scrimshaw, Leslie
IN: Heron, Kolodjashnij, Lonergan
OUT: Schoenfeld, Martin, Swallow
AFL News:
Sydney runner Jeremy Laidler could be fined by the AFL over his actions during the frenetic end to the win over North Melbourne on Sunday.
AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said what Laidler did was not in the spirit of the game, while noting it was unfair to single him out because so many runners did much the same thing.
The league have sent the Swans a please explain letter and the most likely outcome is that Laidler will be warned or receive a small fine.
“In fairness to Jeremy … we could probably send out 18 (please explains) a weekend,” Hocking said.
Laidler, the former Carlton and Sydney defender, came onto the ground with 93 seconds left in Sunday’s dramatic six-point win over the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium.
Rather than deliver messages to players and leave the ground immediately, he stayed out on the field and appeared to be trying to block space.
Sydney coach John Longmire denied vehemently on Tuesday morning that Laidler was doing anything other than giving messages to players.
But the incident highlights the debate around whether team runners should stay in the game.
“It’s very grey, the way it’s all written,” Hocking said of the rules around runners..
“As clubs do, they live in the grey and they’re exceptional at it, as they should be.
“That’s where it comes back to us, what’s the legislation around that? How do we tighten that up to make sure it aligns with the spirit of the game, which I’m huge on.
“I don’t think it (Laidler’s incident) is within the spirit of the game, but I can give you another 17 examples from the weekend – we’ve got a heap of vision.”
Hocking noted that there was talk in the pre-season about restricting runners, but the AFL went with the status quo.
“But it’s certainly on the agenda,” he added.
The AFL had rugby officials as guests for Friday night’s St Kilda-Carlton game.
“They absolutely love the game – but then they ask ‘what are these blokes doing? How do they get that access?’ It’s something that’s evolved,” Hocking said of team runners.
Longmire was adamant that Laidler did nothing wrong.
“He had a small window with 43 seconds to get off the ground, when the play was between him and the interchange bench, he didn’t take it,” Longmire said.
“”He missed that opportunity as a lot of people make mistakes or miss opportunities, whether it’s free kicks or decisions missed.
“… there was absolutely no indication of him deliberately blocking space, or manning up players, that’s just absolutely incorrect.”