AFL LIVE: With Wanganeen-Milera back, St Kilda seeks a scalp against in-form Swans

These are the days that make the purgatory of Sydney’s humid summer worth it. The sun is shining, the air is crisp and it’s a big crowd at the SCG to see the Swans take on St Kilda.

The handball chain has the perfect stage. The Harbour City can a fairly fickle when it comes to turning up to barrack for their team if the weather just so, but there’s no excuse today.

Brodie Grundy is back after a week’s well earned rest and he will be looking forward to a battle against Tom De Koning today. Charlie Curnow kicked eight goals last week against Richmond, leading to claims that he’s a flat track bully. St Kilda will present a slightly tougher challenge.

St Kilda have responded to Sydney’s strong opening with the next two goals, and they’ve both come from the boot of recruit Liam Ryan.

Sydney 7 v St Kilda 12.

These are the days that make the purgatory of Sydney’s humid summer worth it. The sun is shining, the air is crisp and it’s a big crowd at the SCG to see the Swans take on St Kilda.

The handball chain has the perfect stage. The Harbour City can a fairly fickle when it comes to turning up to barrack for their team if the weather just so, but there’s no excuse today.

Brodie Grundy is back after a week’s well earned rest and he will be looking forward to a battle against Tom De Koning today. Charlie Curnow kicked eight goals last week against Richmond, leading to claims that he’s a flat track bully. St Kilda will present a slightly tougher challenge.

The Swans have flexed early, punching the ball into their forward 50m from the opening ball-up and keeping it there until they scored.

Looked like a goal to Justin McInerney with a clever snap, but the St Kilda defenders appealed it was touched.

After a short delay, the goal was paid to McInerney, who’s been in such good form this year our senior AFL writer Jake Niall named him on the wing of his mid-year All-Australian team, which we published this morning.

Another point to Sydney as they keep the ball locked in their forward line.

Sydney 7 v St Kilda 0.

Essendon bombarded members and fans with text messages on Friday in a bid to drag in extra support for the club’s clash with arch rivals Carlton at the MCG tonight.

The club’s marketing department encouraged the Bombers faithful to “celebrate Neale Daniher and shine a light on motor neurone disease” by turning out in force. The Bombers plugged $20 GA tickets – down from $27 across all games at the MCG this King’s Birthday weekend – and 50 per cent off reserved-seat upgrades.

The club said it was regular practice to push for extra attendance in the days before big games. They were expecting a crowd of up to 74,000.

Essendon have won just one game this year, while the Blues are on the crest of a mini-wave, having won their past three under interim coach Josh Fraser.

The two sides drew a crowd of 74,280 in the corresponding fixture last year. The Blues won that clash by eight points.

But in the final round of the 2025 season, a meagre 41,150 people turned out to see Carlton win by 34 points.