SYDNEY and Footscray fans who venture to Tramway Oval on Friday are in for a big man treat with both clubs naming powerful ruck divisions for their Smithy’s VFL clash.

The Swans have regular No.1 AFL ruckman Tom Hickey named in the forward pocket as they aim to win a second game in a row following their upset of Richmond at Swinburne Centre last Thursday.

Fellow big man Peter Ladhams selected at first ruck on his return from an ankle injury that has cost him eight weeks on the sidelines.

The Bulldogs have picked Rory Lobb in their own forward pocket after he was omitted from Thursday night’s AFL team, with the Fremantle recruit likely to pinch hit for star big man Jordon Sweet as the four rucks go toe-to-toe.

Swingman Aaron Francis has also been selected in Sydney’s VFL team, with father-son prospect Indhi Kirk returning following the completion of the Allies historic AFL National Championships U18 Boys victory last week.

They replace promoted smalls Corey Warner and Sam Wicks, while Ryan Clarke was named as the AFL substitute and is likely to be a late withdrawal if he is called into action too early.

As well as Lobb, Footscray regains prolific midfielder Toby McLean, who hasn’t played for six weeks due to a back injury, while St Bedes-Mentone tall Caleb Lewis has broken through for his VFL debut.

Sam Darcy and Riley Garcia were promoted to the AFL and Dom Bedendo reinjured his groin in his first game of the season following a similar injury.

All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.

Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will show one weekly game live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. This week’s game will be Geelong Cats vs Essendon.

SYDNEY SWANS vs FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS

Friday 14 July, 12:05pm, Tramway Oval
Head-to-head: Sydney 11-3-1. At Tramway Oval: Never Met. Streak: Sydney 1

SYDNEY SWANS
B: W. Edwards (28), A. Francis (10), W. Gould (17)
HB: L. Rankin (41), H. Arnold (38), J. Magor (32)
C: C. Mitchell (35), R. Clarke (4), J. Tidemann (63)
HF: H. Hall-Kahan (45), I. Kirk (56)*, L. McAndrew (46)
F: T. Hickey (31), J. Buller (47), C. Owen (40)
R: P. Ladhams (19), N. Shipley (52), D. Stephens (3)
INT: M. Roberts (34), J. Crocker (54), J. Bartholomaeus (53), H. Morrison (55), J. Brown (50)
EMG: M. Geddes (61), O. Davis (54), C. Webster (62), Ham. Morrison (58)

IN: A. Francis, T. Hickey, I. Kirk, P. Ladhams
OUT: C. Warner, S. Wicks (AFL), E. Grace, B. Laws

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: C. Clarke (8), J. Busslinger (5), N. Drummond (51)
HB: J. Bruce (17), H. Gallagher (12), L. Cleary (36)
C: R. McComb (27), L. Sullivan (53), O. Baker (13)
HF: E. MacPherson (67), B. Khamis (24), J. Garner (55)
F: C. Raak (40), A. Jones (32), R. Lobb (7)
R: J. Sweet (41), J. Chatfield (52), T. McLean (16)
INT: D. Orgill (50), E. Hunt (72), S. Willoughby (73), J. Gilbee (69), C. Lewis (70)*
EMG: C. Craig-Peters (61), K. Stretton (66)

IN: C. Lewis, R. Lobb, T. McLean, D. Orgill
OUT: S. Darcy (AFL), R. Garcia (AFL), D. Bedendo (groin), C. Smith
NEW: Caleb Lewis, 19, 198cm, 88kg, St Bedes-Mentone

UMPIRES
FIELD: 10.Chris Brackenrig, 16.Joe O’Brien, 40.Dean Garroway. BOUNDARY: Sam Button, Harry Hansford, Charlie Powell. GOAL: Nick Ford, Alex Strassberg.