Live: Slick Swans start hot against sleeping Giants in Sydney derby

Chad Warner run through the middle of the ground and found his younger brother Corey at the arc.

The kick then fell short, and into the hands of Sam Taylor, but the Giants were unable to clear it out of their defensive 50.

On turnover Nick Blakey ended with the ball and put it straight through the big sticks.

Toby Greene was awarded the free kick with Nick Blakey getting him high.

The ‘Lizard’ shook his head at the call, or perhaps Greene’s forward craft.

But the Giants’ skipper shanked the kick to the right. Second term under way with spice already.

Sydney kicked five goals to open the quarter, four of which came from turnover. They started hot and won the territory battle convincingly with 20-8 inside 50s.

GWS kicked into gear late in the term, going the first 20 minutes with just a behind to their name before goals from Darcy Jones and Aaron Cadman.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen Swans strike early this season.

Last weekend Sydney scored six goals to two against Gold Coast in the opening quarter but ended up losing the game by a whopping 38-points.

A good start for Sydney, no doubt, but a lot more narrative in this game you’d expect.

Ok, the Giants have started to wake up.

They now have two on the board after Aaron Cadman got his first for the day.

He nailed the kick 50 metres out after taking a great mark. Swans still 19 points ahead.

Darcy Jones kicked a ripper right on the 50m arc to get the Giants first goal of the afternoon.

It came right on the 20 minute mark and GWS fans will be hopefully it sparks them alive.

The GWS backline isn’t a bad one by, especially with one of the premier defenders in Sam Taylor. But right now, they are being absolutely stretched.

Will Hayward took an uncontested mark inside 50 and finished the job to make it five in a row for Sydney.

Swans have brought the heat, too. They have the pressure right up and are seemingly the instigators of the pushing and shoving after goals.

It seems as though after every goal, a good amount of argy bargy between these two sides will ensue.

Hayden McLean the latest Swan to get on the scoreboard to make it four in a row for Sydney. Meanwhile, Giants have just the one behind.

Adam Kingsley getting frustrated on the bench as his side remain a step behind their opposition. 

James Rowbottom has kicked the third goal of the afternoon (all Sydney).

The Swans are getting first use of the ball and controlling it well around the ground. They have had eight inside 50s to GWS’ three.

The Giants with just the one score so far, a rushed behind.

It’s Caiden Cleary with the second goal of the day, after Sydney took the corridor with their run-and-carry.

The Swans are moving the ball well early.

Meanwhile, Toby Bedford has the job on Isaac Heeney. You’d imagine a lot of running involved in that match up.

Who else but Sydney’s star midfielder? Isaac Heeney with a superb drop punt has kicked the opening goal of the day.

It took a great mark and an even better finish.

That was a great Sydney clearance. The ball was fed straight to Aaron Francis, but his kick was offline.

Following the mark but a bit of push and shove – so already some heat in this one.

It’s the cross-town rivals. Sydney’s older and younger brother.

The battle of the bridge (well, not if you ask anyone actually in Sydney).

The first Sydney derby without John Longmire as the Swans’ coach.

And it’s all under way…

Not long to go now until Sunday’s footy action kicks off.

The Sydney Swans and GWS Giants have run out on the SCG. Their clash kicking off at 1:10pm AEST.

Will it be Sydney or GWS who may their way back to the winner’s list? We’re about to find out. Big game ahead.

Geelong’s Bailey Smith just can’t help himself.

After Geelong’s nailbiter win over Collingwood at the MCG last night, Smith told Fox Footy: “It’s beautiful… you’re not getting that at Ballarat”.

Earlier in the day, Smith’s old side the Western Bulldogs defeated Port Adelaide at Mars Stadium in Ballarat in front of less than 5,000 people.

This morning, Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli said Smith’s comments will make the clash between the two sides on May 22 at GMHBA Stadium “even more interesting”.

“Very interesting by Bailey … it’s nice to know we’re still on Bailey’s mind. He’s still thinking about us, even at another team,” Bontempelli told Channel 7.

It hasn’t been a great start to the season for Jake Stringer.

In his first year at GWS, he’s kicked a very inaccurate 3.12.

While he may still be working things out in the orange, that performance as sent him to the bench. He’ll be starting today’s match against Sydney as the sub.

For Sydney, it’s Angus Sheldrick who will wear the sub vest for the Swans.

It’s the injury-hit Swans against the stumbling Giants.

Sydney may be last year’s grand finalists, but it’s been a rough start to the season for them. They have been decimated by injuries and sit 15th on the ladder with just two wins and five losses.

Meanwhile, GWS started red hot and looked like a premiership contender before a few recent defeats to send them to 8th spot with four wins, three losses.

It will be an important win or a costly defeat for either side, depending on how the day unfolds.

G’day footy fans, are we ready for another day of AFL action?

The big Q clash between two in-form sides will headline the night, but before that we’ve got Hawthorn and Richmond at the MCG and the Sydney derby at the SCG.

How are we all feeling about today? My immediate thoughts are that Sydney’s warm up tops look a bit like PJs.