It has been an uncharacteristic start to the season for the 2012 premiers. Through the first three weeks they’ve struggled to score from stoppages, an area where they consistently ranked in the top half of the competition previously.
In addition, the Swans’ strike rate in scoring from stoppages has decreased. Here’s a comparison to last year to illustrate the point.
| Sydney | Average points from stoppages | Points per 100 stoppages |
| 2013 | 38.4 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | 26.3 | 68.7 |
| Differential | -12.1 | -22.7 |
Through two weeks the same point could have been applied to North Melbourne. However the Roos returned to form against Port Adelaide, scoring 59 of their 97 points from stoppages – compared to a total of 39 in the first two weeks combined.
With Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes sidelined by injuries, the Swans’ forward line has been depleted to start the year. Forced to scramble to put together a winning score, John Longmire has turned to his midfielders to put more goals on the board, and they have responded.
Of the 10 Swans to kick multiple goals so far this season, only two can be classified as out-and-out forwards; Lance Franklin and Sam Reid. The remainder all spend time through the middle.
Having to deal with goal-kicking midfielders shouldn’t be breaking news to North. In the Swans’ victory when the teams met in 2013, Jude Bolton kicked four goals, while Dan Hannebery and Ben McGlynn kicking three each.
Bolton won’t be there this time around, but the likes of Luke Parker and Kieren Jack could easily step in to fill the breach.
On the other side of the ledger, North showed signs last week it was beginning to get an even spread of goal-kickers. While Scott Thompson won’t hit the scoreboard every week, Aaron Mullett, Nick Dal Santo, Ben Jacobs and Jamie Macmillan kicked five of North’s 14 goals.
Turnovers
In Sydney’s first win of the season over Adelaide, it pressured the Crows’ usage of the ball. 84 of the Swans’ 134 points came from turnovers. It’s a similar trend that was illustrated before the clash against Port Adelaide, but last Sunday, the Roos were able to restrict any damage from turnovers.
It leaves Brad Scott’s team in a good position to prevent a re-occurrence of last year’s defeat. On that afternoon at Blundstone Arena, Sydney kicked seven of its 11 third quarter goals from Kangaroos’ turnovers, blowing the game wide open.
Sunday’s encounter shapes as a tough one for North. However, in facing Sydney interstate on a day that could see rain, it’s another chance to right some wrongs from seasons past.
