Sydney Cricket Ground, Paddington, Sydney Australia
In atrocious, rain sodden conditions, the Sydney Swans have returned to the winners list after a thumping 55 point win over Melbourne. The Swans racked up an incredible 155 tackles for the game which was a record for the most tackles in an AFL game since the collection of detailed statistics. Gun Sydney forward Lance Franklin also achieved a significant playing milestone in posting his 750th career goal. For Melbourne they were record breakers as well, in the negative, posting their lowest ever score at the SCG of 31 points. The Swans simply out-muscled, outran and wore down the Melbourne side in the greasy, wet conditions.
Gary Rohan & his Swans teammates reveled in the wet conditions at the SCG. Photo: Jodie Newell
The weather forecast prior to the game was for a consistent downpour and whilst the prediction was true, thankfully there were no gusting, cyclonic type winds that were experienced in Sydney a few weeks ago. Both teams would have to play the classic “one per-centers” wet weather football tactics of soccering the ball off the ground, marking the ball on the chest,tapping the ball to a teammate and tackling hard at the contest.
Demons ruckman & cult figure ruckman Max Gawn (right) looks down on the ball during a contest. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was Melbourne who adapted to the greasy conditions first. The were able to go forward on several occasions and entered the 50 metre arc on seven occasions compared to Sydney’s one. Melbourne’s hard work was rewarded when they posted their first goal of the game through Christian Petracca. Petracca’s goal was an opportunistic snap and it payed dividends, sailing high through the posts accompanied by the teeming rain. Whilst it was only his 8th game of senior AFL football, the 2014 overall second draft pick looks an outstanding prospect.Petracca has a similar build to his fellow forward in Jesse Hogan. Whilst it’s very early days yet, Christian Petracca looks a certainty to becoming a real star of the Melbourne football club.
Lance Franklin is tackled hard by Melbourne’s Chris Dawes. Lance booted his 750 career goal during the game Photo: Jodie Newell
Mid-term of the quarter, Sydney were able to reply with their first goal of the game, thanks to Josh Kennedy and then Dean Towers posted another and Sydney went to the first break with a slender 11 point lead. The Swans were able to quickly build on that lead in the second quarter when ruckman Toby Nankervis goaled. Nankervis was an inclusion into the Sydney team to cover for the injured Kurt Tippett and he played a serviceable game. He was ably supported by his fellow ruckman in Callum Sinclair. Nankervis and Sinclair’s efforts would surely have given the Sydney coaching staff an uplift after losing Tippett for several weeks. Considering that both players were up against Max Gawn who is in career-best form for Melbourne, it was a very positive effort by the two.
Toby Nankervis in the ruck against Melbourne’s Max Gawn (top right) Photo: Jodie Newell
Melbourne were able to keep their chances alive and remain competitive when Dean Kent scored his side’s only goal for the quarter. Lance Franklin would reply with a goal and it was a significant one at that, being his 750th career goal in the AFL. 580 of those goals were scored when he played for Hawthorn, which included a century 118 goal season in 2008. To date, Lance Franklin has kicked 173 goals for the Sydney Swans. To emphasize just how improved Franklin’s football is this season, he has already at the mid-season point, equaled the amount of goals he kicked last year (47 goals).
Lance Franklin having a great year. Already equaling his goal tally from 2015 at the mid-season point. Photo: Jodie Newell
The second half of the game saw a similar pattern of football with Sydney shutting down the ball at the contest and Melbourne finding it hard to move forward. Lance Franklin posted his second goal and that was followed by a replying six-pointer from Melbourne’s Christian Petracca who now had a pair of goals for the game. The third quarter was a copy of the second, with Sydney kicking two goals to Melbourne’s one. At the final break, Sydney held a gettable 25 point lead over Melbourne. It was a case of did Melbourne have the desire and energy to overcome a determined, dogged Sydney team.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos asks his players for a big last quarter effort. Photo: Jodie Newell
The question of whether Melbourne would be able to win this game was answered very quickly and affirmatively by the Sydney Swans who burst out of the blocks and posted 6 goals to Melbourne’s one in the final quarter. Sydney’s relentless tackling gradually wore down and broke open the Melbourne side. Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn (2 goals), Dean Towers, George Hewett and Jake Lloyd snuffed out the Demon’s chances, whilst Jesse Hogan scored Melbourne’s only goal late in the final term. It was an impressive 55 point win by the Sydney Swans, considering the conditions, an in-form Melbourne and that last week they had suffered a bad defeat to the GWS Giants and lost key ruckman/ forward in Kurt Tippett to a nasty leg injury.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire was obviously pleased with the record breaking tackling effort of his side and they way the Swans had bounced back after a tough loss the week before. He was full of praise for 200 gamer and defender Heath Grundy and quipped the solid defender wouldn’t have minded waking up to see the rain teeming down outside his window on gameday. In the Melbourne sheds, coach Paul Roos thought his team was competitive but acknowledged the class and tackling that was applied by the Sydney Swans team broke open the game in the final quarter.
Swans coach John Longmire was very happy with the record breaking tackle count applied by his side against Melbourne. Photo: Jodie Newell
Sydney will enjoy a well earned bye-week break before encountering the Western Bulldogs in a huge game at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon on July 2. The Swans (10-3) are currently placed 2nd on the AFL ladder. Melbourne will also enjoy a week off before taking on Adelaide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon, July 3. The Demons (6-7) and are in 10th place on the ladder.
SYDNEY SWANS 2.6 4.8 6.13 12.14 (86)
MELBOURNE 1.1 2.3 3.6 4.7 (31)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 4, Towers, McGlynn 2, Hewett, Kennedy, Nankervis, Lloyd
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Kent, Hogan
BEST
Sydney Swans: Towers, McVeigh, Franklin
Melbourne: Petracca, Viney, Gawn
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Andrew Stephens, Chris Kamolins, Scott Jeffery
Official crowd: 19,086 at the Sydney Cricket Ground
