The Sydney Swans have a very strong profile when playing away from home.
North Melbourne great David King and Champion Data colleague Daniel Hoyne have pinpointed the area where John Longmire’s Swans are excelling above their fellow top eight sides.
“We have had a look at the last two years – 2017 and ‘18 – and just how everyone goes against top eight teams interstate," Hoyne said on SEN Afternoons.
“Which is the biggest challenge in football.
“There’s been 100 matches over the last year-and-a-bit of a top eight team travelling to a top eight team’s home ground.
“The winning percentage is 25 percent. That’s one in four (wins).
“This is where Sydney stand out.
“They’ve played seven matches against finalists interstate over the last year-and-a-half and they’ve won five times. They buck the trend.”
King spoke more broadly of Sydney’s form on the road, particularly in 2018 in which they have won all six matches away from the SCG.
“The Sydney Swans have got the most bizarre profile,” King said.
“They’re nine points better on the road in terms of their attack and they are four points better in terms of their defence.
“So they travel unbelievably.
“That’s why they’ve got a 6-0 record on the road this year.
“It’s a great asset to have.”
Hoyne believes the Swans simply, "buck the trend in a lot of things they do.”
Some of the current top eight sides have lesser records interstate over the last season-and-a-half:
- Melbourne have only played three times, but they’ve won twice.
- Port Adelaide have done it eight times, they’ve won four.
- Collingwood have done it three times, two wins.
- West Coast have done it seven times, they’ve only won twice.
- Richmond have travelled five times for one win against Port Adelaide last year.
- Geelong have travelled six times for only one win – Port Adelaide this year in Round 5.
Listen to King and Hoyne's Pure Footy chat on SEN Afternoons in the player below: