Both the Lions and Swans sit on top of the ladder in their respective conferences and approach the match in white-hot form.
For Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke and his men, it presents an opportunity for the Club to finally break its hoodoo against the Sydney Reserves side.
“We’ve never beaten them since the introduction of the NEAFL,” Clarke said.
“They beat us earlier this year in Brisbane, and gave a really good touch-up when we last played them in Sydney late in 2011. The final margin that day was around the 150-point mark.”
“It’s probably as big a game as we’ll play this year - aside from finals should we get there.”
“We’ve probably never met them in this sort of form, or with such confidence, so I think it will be a good game to watch.”.
The occasion will be made even more special considering the match will be played at the SCG as a curtain raiser to the senior game.
As a result, the Lions will send an extended travelling party to Sydney on Friday consisting of both senior and reserves players, coaches and staff.
“It’s a really exciting week with the whole Club is going down,” Clarke said.
“We actually made mention of it during the week that it really is our entire Club against theirs this weekend.”
“It’s good in terms of education and getting the entire group to travel together and play at an AFL venue,” he said.
“Quite a few of our guys would have probably never played at an AFL venue before, so that’s going to be a great experience for them.”
The withdrawals of Ash McGrath, Mitch Golby and Jared Polec through injury will have some impact on the strength of the reserves side, considering in-form trio Patrick Karnezis, Cheynee Stiller and Jack Crisp have been recalled to the senior side.
At least one of either Aaron Cornelius, Claye Beams and Elliot Yeo - who are the three listed emergencies - will also only play half a game with the reserves in the off chance they’re required for a late senior call-up themselves.
“We were hoping to have a couple more players available, but from what I can gather about the Swans, they will have similar numbers as us,” Clarke said.
“We’ll definitely be less experienced this week, but that makes it all the more exciting.”
“The education component of these games for our young players is vital - and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Brisbane Lions Reserves with play Sydney at 1pm this Saturday 7 July at the SCG.
