DESPITE how it appears on paper, Saturday's Sydney derby at Giants Stadium will be an intense match-up between two sides fighting to be the number one club in town.
MATCH PREVIEW Giants v Swans
At the heart of the contest will be two tag teams of opposing inside midfielders, and their battle for ascendancy is worth tuning in for alone.
In one corner, an experienced duo with a proven track record over many years, Sydney co-captains Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.
In the other, a pair of young tyros driven by the extra responsibility and leadership demanded by the absence of star teammates, Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto.
With injuries decimating the Giants' midfield, Tim Taranto has stepped to the fore. Picture: AFL Photos
Sydney's established stars were part of the club's last premiership in 2012, and have five club champion awards and four All Australian blazers between them.
Kennedy, 31, has played 242 games while Parker, 26, has 191 to his name.
Not a bad return for players both chosen with pick 40 at their respective national drafts in 2006 (Kennedy, by Hawthorn) and 2010 (Parker).
FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game
They've been the Swans' inside specialists for years, and their consistency at the top level given the amount of punishment they've taken has been remarkable.
They're again ranked one and two at the Swans this season for clearances and contested possessions.
"They're both bulls and have been two of the best at it for a long time," Taranto said on Wednesday.
The Giants' emerging leaders have all the attributes to build equally impressive résumés.
Hopper, 22, is in his fourth season, and is starting to provide the Giants with value for selecting him at No. 7 in the 2015 NAB AFL draft.
He's emerged from some bad luck with injury and illness to average 26.6 disposals per game in 2019, 14.3 of those contested, and 6.6 clearances.
He's the number one man at GWS for contested ball and clearances.
Taranto is ranked second. The second player taken at the 2016 draft has racked up 28.3 possessions per game this year, 11.3 contested, and 5.3 clearances.
Jacob Hopper's inside work has propelled the 22-year-old to his best season yet. Picture: AFL Photos
Hopper and Taranto's prolific numbers are career highs, and have been produced under trying circumstances.
The Giants have been without vice-captains Stephen Coniglio (third for clearances this season) and Josh Kelly (fourth), plus Matt de Boer (fifth) due to injury in recent weeks, and co-skipper Callan Ward has missed virtually the entire season.
They were tipped to take on bigger roles this year, but it was supposed to be under the on-field guidance of the Giants' biggest names.
It hasn't stopped Hopper and Taranto's fierce attack on the footy or the opposition, and the youngsters are playing sore, like most players at this time of year.
Kennedy and Parker have also refused to yield despite their monster workload in a youthful Sydney team that is transitioning into a new era.
From this afternoon's first bounce until the final siren you'll see Kennedy and Hopper, Parker and Taranto, Hopper and Parker, Taranto and Kennedy, crashing into packs and each other for the good of their teams.
There'll be more exciting feats performed throughout the game, but if you love watching committed players and brutal contests around the footy, look no further than the midfield duel between these four outstanding players.
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