Sydney hosts Melbourne in the 2024 AFL season at the SCG on Thursday night.
The inaugural Opening Round clash provides plenty of intrigue with two finalists from last season set to do battle in one of four opening-weekend fixtures.
Check out the key points of interest:
1 - 'Gawndy' reunited
Sydney recruit Brodie Grundy will resume hostilities with Max Gawn after the pair were teammates at Melbourne last year.
The last time Grundy played Gawn was back in Round 12 of the 2020 season when the Demons comfortably beat Collingwood by 56 points at the Gabba.
The pair have eight All-Australian ruck blazers between them.
2 – Pivotal Jordon
Former Demon James Jordon finds himself with a pivotal role to play on his Swans debut in the absence of Callum Mills, Luke Parker and Taylor Adams.
He was a fringe on-baller at the Dees but heads into his first game against his former club as their key inside mid.
3 – Dees chasing three in a row
The Swans are out to exact revenge for their 21-point loss to the Demons which took place at the SCG in Round 24 last year. They lost both encounters in 2023 after going down by 50 points at the MCG in Round 3.
Prior to that, Sydney had won two in a row including the 2022 Qualifying Final at the MCG.
4 – Fritsch on fire
In the Round 24 meeting last season, Bayley Fritsch booted five goals for the Demons.
He has helped himself to 14 goals in his last four outings against the Swans and polled Brownlow votes in both games in 2023.
5 – Golden Gulden
Sydney’s star-in-the-making Errol Gulden produced a career-best 42 touches against the Dees last year.
Prior to that, however, he had totalled 57 touches in his previous four against the red and blue at an average of 14.25.
6 – Clarry is back
After a tumultuous summer, Clayton Oliver is back in the Melbourne line-up.
He has a strong recent record against the Swans, averaging 28.6 disposals, 6.8 tackles and 6.8 clearances across his last five.
Oliver picked up three Brownlow votes in the Round 3 victory last year which was his third BOG against the Bloods in six home and away meetings since 2019.
7 - Consistent Trac
Christian Petracca has also found plenty of the pill against the Swannies of late.
He has averaged 27.8 touches, 5.8 inside 50s and 4.4 clearances in his last five.
8 - Contributing Pap
Tom Papley has kicked seven goals in his last three outings against the Demons.
He booted three in the Round 3 loss last year but didn’t play in Round 24.
9 - Swans & Demons debutants
Blake Howes and Caleb Windsor will make their AFL debuts for the Demons.
Jack Billings will play his first game in a Melbourne jumper after 155 with St Kilda.
For the Swans, it will be old Dees Grundy and Jordon outing up in red and white for the first time.
