The spiciest rivalry currently in the game kicks off AFL Sunday’s derby day with Sydney and GWS facing off.
With the NRL out of town for Magic Round the AFL has swooped in with a rare fixturing masterstroke and scheduled a Sydney derby on a standalone weekend of sport in Sydney.
And it’s a match that has a hell of a lot riding on it. Given the current plight of the Swans and the slip-ups from the Giants over the past fortnight, the ramifications for the loser of this one are enormous.
The Swans, besieged by injuries, were handed their third loss in a row at the hands of the Gold Coast Suns, blown away by a 12-goal-blitz as they sunk to a 2-5 start to the year. Their worst start to the season since 2020 and are staring down the barrel of doing something rarer than a sighting of the loch-ness monster - missing the finals.
The Giants too got a firm reality check last week. A recipient of a Bulldog blitz in the third quarter in Canberra, the Giants - now sitting at four wins and three losses for the season have given up its early advantage to just remain in the top eight on percentage. With a testing month of games to come.
There’s little respite from an availability standpoint for the Swans, with 12 on the injury list and no one in line to return this week from injury. Sam Wicks is a test after missing last week with a calf issue and young midfielder Angus Sheldrick has put his hand up for selection after another strong performance in the VFL.
The Giants will put veteran Steve Coniglio through a fitness test as he battles to return from a glute injury. Luckily for Adam Kingsley, he has a few different players putting their hands up for games with strong VFL performances.
Despite both teams' struggles, there's very little added motivation needed to get up for the battle of the bridge.
There’s nothing fabricated about this rivalry, these teams genuinely don’t like each other. And if we get a contest that is half as good as the Qualifying Final these two sides played against each other 12 games ago, then sign us up to be there watching it.
Expect some fireworks. Expect some biff. And expect a cringey Cooper Hamilton video to come from the Giants' legendary media team too
For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Swans vs Giants predictions and preview below.
Sydney vs GWS Giants Predicted Teams
Sydney Predicted Team
B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey
HB: Riley Bice, Lewis Melican, Matt Roberts
C: Ollie Florent, Isaac Heeney, Jake Lloyd
HF: James Jordon, Hayden McLean, Caiden Cleary
F: Braeden Campbell, Aaron Francis, Will Hayward
Foll: Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Chad Warner
Int: Corey Warner, Tom Hanily, Peter Ladhams, Justin McInerney, Angus Sheldrick
GWS Giants Predicted Team
B: Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, Harry Himmelberg
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley, Lachie Ash
C: Connor Stone, Finn Callaghan, Toby Bedford
HF: Darcy Jones, Jake Riccardi, Harvey Thomas
F: Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer
Foll: Kieren Briggs, Josh Kelly, Tom Green
Int: Xavier O’Halloran, Callan Ward, Aaron Cadman, Toby McMullin, Jacob Wehr
Sydney vs GWS Giant Prediction & Betting Tips
Head-to-Head Prediction
For all the spice and social media barbs they have concocted over the past five meetings, It’s been the Swans that have emerged victorious on four of the past five occasions. Including all three meetings in 2024.
The Giants have dipped from their early season high points to be ranked mid-table on both offence and defence.
They have struggled to score in the past couple of weeks. They were missing Jesse Hogan against Adelaide in a week where they only managed 34 points total. Hogan’s return last week helped give the Giants their focal point up front, but Hogan only managed the two goals.
Speaking of goals, they’ve been hard to come by for Sydney in recent weeks. Harder even to find guys who look like kicking them.
The lizard Nick Blakey even managed to creep forward last week and kick three goals to give Dean Cox something in the forward line that looked like a tall target.
The Swans midfield is well down on its usual high markers, ranked a lowly 13th for clearances this year. Despite the heavy loss to the Suns, there were some signs of life from Chad Warner who, fresh after signing his new contract, sprung back into action with two goals and his customary burst from the middle and run and carry. There were also signs from Isaac Heeney… and the Giants don’t need to have their memories jogged too much as to what he can do/ has done in those games before.
Legend has it that he is still standing on Jack Buckley’s shoulders bringing down the hanger.
Adam Kingsley will have a decision to make as to who he sends Toby Bedford to to curtail the influence between those two. He’ll be hoping his captain steps up to the plate too after two down weeks. Maybe a run through the midfield will help unlock Toby in a big game.
It’s going to be a fun one to watch. It’s a must-win for both of these sides but it’s almost desperation stakes for the Swans if they lose this one. But with their outs, and the quality of outs, we think the Giants get bragging rights on their bigger brother.
Betting tip: GWS Giants.
First Goal Prediction
It’s not quite at the level of “if one Warner doesn’t get you the other one will” as it is with a couple of other sets of brothers around the league, but Corey Warner did hit the scoreboard before his more fancied brother Chad did last week.
Making the most of his sustained run of games, He’s become an important member of Dean Cox’s side, and saluted with a career best disposals and kicked two goals against the Suns.
We think he’s well-placed to hit the board first. And who doesn't love seeing the number 37 get on the board at the SCG?
Betting tip: Corey Warner.
Most Disposals Prediction
He’s the lesser-known of the two Lachies that come pounding off the Giants half-back line, but Lachie Ash has put together an incredibly strong start to the season.
The former pick-four is averaging well over 30 disposals per game in 2025. While history is against him, having only averaged just 22 disposals against the Swans in his past five matches, His form at the moment is too good to ignore here. We’re backing him in.
Betting tip: Lachie Ash (30 + disposals).
Sydney vs GWS Giants Match Details
Date: Sunday, May 4th, 2025.
First Bounce: 1:20pm AEST.
Location: SCG, Sydney.
How to watch: Fox Footy/Kayo Sports.