SUMMARY
The Swans are battered after a bruising qualifying final loss to Greater Western Sydney, and lost ruckman Kurt Tippett (jaw) and defender Callum Mills (hamstring) for their clash with Adelaide. The minor premiers blew their chance of securing a vital home preliminary final with the loss against the Giants, but must regroup quickly with the in-form Crows and their multi-dimensional forward line coming to town. Crows' skipper Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch have kicked 219 goals between them this year, and present an enormous challenge for the Swans' defence, who are the best performed group in the competition this season. Nick Smith will get the job on Betts and will want his midfielders to apply a lot more pressure up the ground than they did against GWS, while All Australian Dane Rampe will be looking to respond after lowering his colours to Jeremy Cameron last week.

WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Saturday, September 17, 7.25pm AEST

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WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?
Round Four: Adelaide Crows 16.17 (113) d Sydney Swans 15.13 (103) at Adelaide Oval
The two teams played out a classic in front of over 51,000 fans, with the Crows' composure under pressure late in the game helping them over the line. Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney kicked four goals each for the Swans, as did Eddie Betts for the home side, and it was the small forwards' final goal that sealed the result late in the game. 

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R4, 2016, Adelaide Crows 16.17 (113) d Sydney Swans 15.13 (103) at Adelaide Oval
R18, 2015, Sydney Swans 17.15 (117) d Adelaide Crows 9.11 (65) at the SCG
R3, 2014, Sydney Swans 21.8 (134) d Adelaide Crows 9.17 (71) at Adelaide Oval
R11, 2013, Sydney Swans 19.13 (127) d Adelaide Crows 6.14 (50) at AAMI Stadium
2QF, 2012, Sydney Swans 11.5 (71) d Adelaide Crows 5.12 (42) at AAMI Stadium 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Sydney Swans
1. Dane Rampe's response. The All Australian was well beaten by Jeremy Cameron last week, both in one-on-one contests and on the lead. The fierce competitor will be out to put his off day behind him.

2. More midfield pressure. The Giants out muscled the minor premiers last week, but the Swans also let their opposition stroll through the middle of the ground too often, and will need to lift their tackling and defensive pressure to help their backs against the Crows.

3. A furious opening from the home side. So often the benchmark for contested footy sides in the AFL, the Swans admitted GWS were harder at the footy and the man last week, and that sting is sure to come out from the first bounce.

SANFL Preview: Crows v Double Blues

Adelaide
1. Outside of Eddie Betts, damaging defender Brodie Smith was the most influential player on the ground last weekend. Smith will be given a free reign to attack out of the back half and put the Crows on the offensive.

2. The Crows don't usually employ a tagger, but they may this week to contain Dan Hannebery, who had 38 touches the last time they met, in round four. There's not a natural tagger in the side, so expect the likes of Jarryd Lyons, Rory Atkins and Richard Douglas to share the load.

3. Kyle Hartigan and Jake Lever will help out Daniel Talia in containing Swans spearhead Lance Franklin and prevent him from getting easy goals on the break. The Crows will take a leaf out of Greater Western Sydney's book and allow Franklin to get his touches up the ground.

THE SIX POINTS
1. These two teams kicked just five goals in the first half when they met in Round Four; the Swans then kicked seven goals to six in the third quarter, before the Crows finished the stronger side. Eddie Betts finished with four and Tom Lynch three. Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney booted four goals each for the Swans.

2. Both sides have been strong in clearances this season; the Swans are ranked third averaging 38.7 per game, ahead of the Crows fourth at 38.6. In centre clearances the Crows are ranked first, compared to the Swans 11th.

3. This will be the third time these teams have met in finals; Adelaide won the first game, the 1998 second semi-final at the SCG, before the Swans won the second Qualifying Final in 2012 at AAMI Stadium. The Swans have lost four of their last five knock out semi-finals, while Adelaide has won two of their last four.

4. The Crows continue to be the highest scoring side in 2016, averaging 114 points per game, and last week against North Melbourne kicked 100 points in a game for the 17th time this season. The Swans average 98 points per game this season, but were held to 7.13 (55) last week against the Giants, their lowest score of the season.

5. The Swans will be playing their first final at the SCG since 2005, when they won a thrilling semi-final against Geelong. They have played five times at the SCG in finals for four wins, while Adelaide has lost seven of their last eight finals interstate.

6. Swan Dan Hannebery has jumped to 16th in the AFL's official player ratings after his 31-disposal effort against the Giants last week, with the star midfielder beginning the season ranked 32nd.

WHAT THE COACHES SAY
John Longmire (After last week's loss to GWS): "The good thing is we've earned the double chance and we get another go next week. We get to look at what we didn't do that well and be able to try and remedy it, and that's the advantage of getting in the top four, you get that extra chance and we get another crack at it next week."

Don Pyke: "It's a terrific challenge. Clearly they are going to be disappointed from the result (against Greater Western Sydney) and we'll expect a fired-up Sydney. Their inside midfielders are as a good as any in the competition."

IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Nick Smith: after getting the tough job on Toby Greene last week, the small defender has to back up and shut down another All Australian in Eddie Betts, who is in career-best form and coming off a six-goal performance against North Melbourne.

Daniel Talia: The Swans struggled to kick a score with Lance Franklin held goalless against the Giants, and the All Australian defender must get the better of the star forward if the Crows are to stay alive.

AFL.COM.AU PREDICTION: Sydney Swans by 19 points