Swans captain Jarrad McVeigh is greeted by a giant Saints poster as they walk through Wellington airport. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE giant billboard in the arrivals lounge at Wellington airport makes it clear to the Sydney Swans they've arrived in enemy territory for their historic Anzac Day clash with St Kilda on Thursday.
It's the first time in the game's 116-year history that four competition points are up for grabs outside Australia.
As part of the AFL's expansion plans Wellington will be "Saints territory" with St Kilda hosting three Anzac Day games in Wellington over the next three seasons.
Swans coach John Longmire said the significance of the match was not lost on his playing group.
"It's good to be part of history, not only to be part of the first game internationally for four points but also to be playing on Anzac Day. It's a wonderful tradition that this county and New Zealand share so closely," he said.
"It was certainly unique this morning when I had to take my passport for a game of football, I've never done that before for four points."
While they have never played football here, the Swans are well aware of windy Wellington's reputation for bad weather.
"We've packed the Ugg boots and the jackets and we'll see how cold it gets," Longmire said.
A small group of Swans fans welcomed the reigning premiers at the airport. A crowd of 20,000-plus is expected at Westpac Stadium - 30 of whom will be relatives of Swans defender Heath Grundy, whose mother, Lynn, was born in New Zealand.
The Swans arrived a day earlier than the Saints, who are the home side for the match, and are hoping the extra time will help their preparation.
"We try to replicate what we do when we go to Perth. We tend to have our main training session in Perth two days before the game and that's what we're trying to do going to New Zealand. It allows us to get used to the time difference," Longmire said.
"We play at 11 different days and time slots throughout the year so you just get used to it."
The Swans will be without versatile big man Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who will miss 3-4 weeks after injuring his knee against Geelong. He will have arthroscopic surgery this week.
"Structurally, as we thought after the game, it's sound but there may be a bit of floating cartilage," Longmire said.
"Hopefully he'll be back in a few weeks."
Sydney will be without three grand final players who regularly play in defence. Alex Johnson is out for the season with a knee injury and Rhyce Shaw is still sidelined with an abdominal injury.
"It happened to Hawthorn on the weekend, they lost another really good player (Ryan Schoenmakers)," Longmire said.
"Those things happen in football and you just have to make sure you've got the players to come in.
"You get on with it, that's just what you do. We've seen Dane Rampecome into the team so he'll get an opportunity to play and Tony Armstrong is playing a bit more."
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