Last meeting: Round two - Sydney 17.5 (107) defeated Geelong 10.17 (77) at the SCG
Last finals meeting: Preliminary final, 2017 - Geelong 15.8 (98) defeated Sydney 5.9 (39) at the MCG
All-time head to head: Played 228, Geelong 125, Sydney 103
Premierships: Geelong 9 (1925, 1931, 1937, 1951-52, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011), Sydney 5 (1909, 1918, 1933, 2005, 2012)
Coaches head to head: Played 18, Chris Scott 9, John Longmire 9 (1-1 in finals)
The AFL grand final returns to the home of football for the first time in three years as minor premiers Geelong take on Sydney. Two of the eight VFL foundation clubs in 1897 - when the Swans were known as South Melbourne - the pair have never previously met in a season decider. They have locked horns just once this season, way back in round two, when the straight-kicking Swans won by 30 points at the SCG. That was the only time Geelong's watertight defence has coughed up a triple-figure score all season. The Cats have been dominant, finishing the home-and-away season two games clear on top of the ladder, while the Swans took a huge step forward this year by surging into the top four. Sydney's goalkicking legend Lance Franklin will be looking to snare a premiership to dispel any doubts over the success of his mega move to the Harbour City, while fellow superstar Patrick Dangerfield embodies the Cats' run of near misses in recent seasons. Sydney got through their preliminary final the hard way with an epic one-point triumph over Collingwood but Geelong had a relatively easy progression, smashing Brisbane by 71 points, and will enjoy one extra day's rest. There are injury watches for both clubs, with Geelong youngster Max Holmes (hamstring) and Sydney tall Sam Reid (adductor) both in significant doubt. Swans co-captain Josh Kennedy will watch from the sidelines after a setback in his recovery from a serious hamstring injury ended his career this month. Geelong's Chris Scott and Sydney's John Longmire are both searching for their second premierships as head coach, having been successful in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Scott enters his third grand final with the Cats and Longmire his fourth with the Swans after both took up their posts ahead of the 2011 season. The two sides will come together for the grand final parade in Melbourne on Friday before taking centre stage in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot.
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