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Sydney Swans will be looking to keep their strong start to the season rolling when they play host to Essendon at the SCG on Saturday night.
The Swans have made an eye-catching start to the campaign and look like the best team in the AFL right now, having made it back-to-back comfortable victories against Melbourne and reigning champions Collingwood Magpies over the last couple of weeks. They now face the Bombers, who kicked off their season with a 107-83 win against the Hawthorn Hawks.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers in the AFL, plus plenty more.
Sydney vs Essendon date and start time
| Date | Saturday, March 23, 2024 |
| Start time | 7:30 pm AEDT (6:30 pm AEST, 7:00 pm ACDT, 6:00 pm ACST, 4:30 pm AWST) |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
How to watch Sydney vs Essendon on TV & stream live online
There are several options to watch the Sydney vs Essendon AFL game in Australia, including Network Seven, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra, and Kayo Sports.
The best way to livestream the aforementioned AFL game is through Kayo with a seven-day free trial. It also does not have a lock-in contract or equipment fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you are no longer using it.
All you need to decide is whether you want to pick Kayo One at $25 per month (1 stream and up to HD), or Kayo Basic at $35 per month (two streams and up to 4K).
What channel is Sydney vs Essendon game on?
The game will be broadcast live on Channel 7's free-to-air TV, and will also be available to watch on Fox Footy's subscription TV service. Triple M, ABC and AFL Nation will provide the radio coverage.
Streaming the game with a VPN
- Overview of VPN services that allow access to geo-restricted streams
- How to set up and use a VPN service to stream the match
You can watch the game from wherever you are in the world by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as NordVPN/ ExpressVPN. A VPN will allow you to create a secure connection online when you are abroad on holiday or for work and you want to stream the game live.
If you are not sure which VPN to use or how to use a VPN, we have taken a look at the best options available out there for watching live sports - check out the best VPN services review here.
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to use a VPN to watch a game when you are overseas:
- Install VPN of your choice - see our reviews here for the best options.
- Select the location you wish to connect to. This is easy - if you are visiting the UK and you wish to continue watching one of your U.S. streaming services, you would select the US.
- Grab the popcorn and get ready to watch!
Sydney vs Essendon team news
Sydney Swans team news
Experienced Swans midfielder duo Luke Parker (arm) and Taylor Adams (knee) will remain sidelined for at least two more weeks, but Sydney are faring well without them, with so many young players like Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and Logan McDonald starting to realize their full potential.
Callum Mills (shoulder) will return sometime midway through the season, while Angus Sheldrick (finger) is expected to be fit by round five. John Longmire's side will likely remain unaltered this weekend.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Rucks | McLean, Grundy, Ladhams, Green, McAndrew |
| Defenders | Cunningham, Florent, Blakey, Vickery, Edwards, Hamling, McCartin, Fox, Lloyd, Francis, McCartin, Rampe, McInerney, Edwards, Hamling, Arnold, Snell, Melican |
| Midfielders | Adams, Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Mills, Campbell, Jordon, Kirk, Cleary, Roberts, Mitchell |
| Forwards | Heeney, Hayward, Papley, Wicks, Konstanty, Magor, Warner, Buller, McDonald, Reid, Amartey |
Essendon Bombers team news
Essendon defender Mason Redman has accepted a one-match ban for striking, while Matt Guelfi (calf) and Zach Reid (hamstring) will both miss through injury.
Harrison Jones could find himself on the sidelines after making no impact last time out, with Jayden Laverde, Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, and Nick Hind set to rotate into the side.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Rucks | Draper, Goldstein, Bryan, Visentini |
| Defenders | Ridley, Laverde, Hayes, Baldwin, Reid, McKay, McGrath, Hind, Heppell, Durham, Redman, Kelly, Lual, Davey Jnr, Roberts |
| Midfielders | Parish, Tsatas, Caldwell, Merrett, Hobbs, Shiel, Cox, Setterfield, Wright, Duursma, Martin |
| Forwards | Langford, Weideman, Perkins, Jones, Baldwin, Caddy, Reid, McKay, Hunter, Gresham, Stringer, Davey, Wanganeen, Menzie |
Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Match (Result) | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 29/07/23 | Essendon Bombers 99-101 Sydney Swans | AFL |
| 02/07/22 | Essendon Bombers 95-86 Sydney Swans | AFL |
| 14/05/22 | Sydney Swans 105-47 Essendon Bombers | AFL |
| 01/08/21 | Essendon Bombers 102-109 Sydney Swans | AFL |
| 08/04/21 | Sydney Swans 83-80 Essendon Bombers | AFL |