Swans fly back home for this away game

THERE’S nothing like a little local knowledge to help you get over the line in a big game — and that’s exactly what Swans players (from left) Dean Towers, Gary Rohan and Lewis Melican bring to tonight’s blockbuster against Geelong. All three are from the Geelong region and will be keen to prove a point.

WHEN it comes to home-ground advantages nothing compares with Geelong’s fortress Simonds Stadium.

The Cats have easily the best record of any club on their own turf, winning 66 of their past 73 matches at the Cattery.

It is why the Swans will be drawing on the local knowledge of country boys Gary Rohan, Lewis Melican and Dean Towers, who grew up playing at the venue, when they run out in Geelong tonight. All three grew up in nearby towns and played plenty of matches at the famous venue as juniors.

Rohan came from nearby Cobden, Melican from Birregurra and Towers from Luke Hodge’s home town of Colac. Rohan and Melican played a host of times when they were with the Geelong Falcons.

“It’s great to have some country boys from back home to play with in Sydney,” Rohan said.

“Footy is everything in that part of the world and naturally the Cats dominate everything.

“I’ve played a lot of footy on the ground and I love the long and narrow configuration.”

Towers has not played at the venue as much as Rohan because he played mostly in the Colac and District League, but still chalked up a few games with North Ballarat in the VFL.