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Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL Round 22 Tips - Injury-Ravaged Power Worth a Nibble as Swans Ramp Up

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: Fri 07 Aug 2026 08:26

In Round 22, 2026, the Sydney Swans host Port Adelaide at the SCG. Despite some recent slip-ups, Sydney's dominant wins over GWS and St Kilda reassert their premiership credentials. Port Adelaide, hit hard by injuries to key players like Rozee and Butters, have shown remarkable resilience, often narrowly losing to finals contenders. Experts tip Sydney to win and Port to cover a +37.5 line, highlighting Dante Visentini to kick a goal and Ollie Wines for 25+ disposals. The Swans are expected to strengthen their position, but Port should stay competitive.

Ryan Tucker 07 Aug 2026
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  • Sydney Swans regain form with statement wins ahead of Port Adelaide clash.
  • Port Adelaide's season ravaged by injuries but they remain competitive against top sides.
  • Expert tip: Sydney to win, Port to cover +37.5, with Visentini for a goal and Wines for 25+ disposals.
  • The game will be played at SCG on Saturday, 8th August, with the bounce at 4:15 PM (AEST)
Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide

Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide, Round 22 2026 - Expert Prediction


Sydney's form line tells two different stories. A four-goal capitulation to Fremantle and a 16-point home loss to Adelaide raised real questions about their premiership credentials, but a 51-point flogging of GWS in the Sydney Derby and a fast-finishing 19-point win over St Kilda have them building real momentum again right when it matters most. Take out the two lacklustre losses and Sydney's average winning margin across their good weeks sits well north of what the market is pricing for this one.
Port Adelaide's season has been defined by attrition. Their 12-point loss to GWS last week was their seventh defeat this year to a finals contender by two goals or less, and it came without captain Connor Rozee and vice-captain Zak Butters. Add Kane Farrell, Josh Sinn, Esava Ratugolea and Ollie Lord to the season-ending list and Port are picking teams from a genuinely threadbare list. Jason Horne-Francis has been excellent stepping into the midfield void, and Mitch Georgiades continues to find the scoreboard, but there's a limit to how much a depleted top-up group can do for four quarters against a finals-calibre opponent.

The last meeting between these two went right down to the wire 93-90 which is a reminder that even with the personnel gap now wider, Port have shown they can hang around in this fixture.

Take Port Adelaide +37.5, the multi of Sydney to win and Port to cover for $2.50, Dante Visentini to kick a goal, and Ollie Wines for 25+ disposals as the plays for Saturday afternoon at the SCG.

  • Port have covered games against much better opposition all season on the back of a resilient, contested game, seven losses to finals sides by two goals or less says this group doesn't fold easily even without its best players.
  • Sydney's last two performances have been genuine statements, but a 27-point market tip against a side that's been competitive against good teams looks like more than enough buffer for Port to have a say in the finish.
  • Dante Visentini has kicked 6 goals in 11 games this year and has been a regular feature inside Port's forward 50 alongside veteran target Ollie Wines.
  • Wines, a former Brownlow medallist with 273 games of AFL experience, has been Port's senior on-field presence through this injury crisis and remains a heavy user of the ball regardless of the scoreboard.

Head to Head Stats


Sydney have the recent wood on Port Adelaide, winning their last meeting 14.9 (93) to 13.12 (90) in round 14 this year. Beyond that single-game narrowness, Sydney's overall head-to-head dominance runs deep - 23 wins to 16 all-time and a 12-7 record at the venue. But Port have shown in three of the last five meetings that they can push the margin into single figures even in years they've been well outside the eight.

Sydney Swans Form Analysis


Sydney's comeback win over St Kilda was built on individual brilliance late. Errol Gulden (34 disposals, 7 clearances, a goal), Isaac Heeney (22 disposals, 7 clearances, 2 goals) and Chad Warner (25 disposals, 6 clearances, 2 goals) combined for a 9-goals-from-11 blitz after trailing at every change. The win came at a cost, though with key defender Will Edwards suffering a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula requiring surgery, and midfielder James Rowbottom is facing a broken hand that could sideline him until finals. Sydney sit second on the ladder at 15-5, three games clear inside the top four with three rounds remaining.

Port Adelaide Form Analysis


Port led early against GWS but were overrun by a six-goal scoring stretch either side of half-time, going down 10.15 (75) to 9.9 (63) despite a late fightback that fell just short when Mitch Georgiades missed a set shot from 35m. Jason Horne-Francis (29 disposals, 7 clearances, a goal), Miles Bergman, Aliir Aliir (21 disposals, 7 marks) and Georgiades (3 goals) were their best. Port sit 15th at 6-14 and rank 15th for scoring this season, having topped 100 points just once all year.

Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide Team List & News


Sydney Swans Team News:Lewis Melican, Sam Wicks, Joe Dattoli and Joel Hamling return as the Swans make four changes. Will Edwards and James Rowbottom are injured, Dane Rampe has been managed and Malcolm Rosas omitted.

Port Adelaide Team News:Tom Anastasopoulos replaces the injured Jack Watkins in Port Adelaide’s only change.

Sydney SwansPOSPort Adelaide
C. Mills, T. McCartin, L. MelicanBJ. Lai, H. Ramm, M. Bergman
N. Blakey, R. Bice, S. WicksHBD. Byrne-Jones, A. Aliir, L. Jones
M. Roberts, E. Gulden, J. SerongCC. Moraes, J. Horne-Francis, J. Burgoyne
J. Lloyd, L. McDonald, B. CampbellHFX. Bamert, T. Marshall, J. Berry
T. Papley, C. Curnow, B. CooteeFC. Durdin, J. Whitlock, M. Georgiades
B. Grundy, I. Heeney, C. WarnerFOLLJ. Sweet, O. Wines, W. Drew
H. Kyle, J. Dattoli, J. Jordon, H. McLean, J. HamlingI/CT. Anastasopoulos, M. Zadow, W. Lorenz, B. O’Brien, D. Visentini

Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL 2026 Round 22 FAQ's

  • How to watch Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL 2026 Round 22?

    You can watch the Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL 2026 Round 22 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.

  • How to buy tickets to Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL 2026 Round 22?

    To buy tickets to the Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide AFL 2026 Round 22 game check the AFL website or the official Sydney Swans site.

Verdict

Take Port Adelaide +37.5, the multi of Sydney to win and Port to cover for $2.50, Dante Visentini to kick a goal, and Ollie Wines for 25+ disposals as the plays for Saturday afternoon at the SCG.
Best Bet1: Port Adelaide +37.5 Line $1.90 at OnlyBets - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Syd Win/Port Cover Same Game Multi $2.50 at Marantellibet - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Dante Visentini Anytime Goalscorer $2.30 at Neds - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Ollie Wines 25+ Disposals $2.15 at dabble - 1 Unit
Port Adelaide +37.5
Line
$1.90 - 3 Units
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