Sydney Cricket Ground, Paddington, Sydney Australia
This week there was no double chance to lean back on for the Sydney Swans. After a punishing, bruising loss to cross-town rivals the Greater Western Sydney Giants, the Swans had to bounce back, play the football that earnt them the minor premiership and take on a well credentialed Adelaide Crows side.Sydney did that from the very start and indeed it was their quick start and application to the contest that made the difference in the end that now sees Sydney just one win away from a Grand Final berth.
Souring the victory was a couple of significant injuries to key Swans players in Jarrad McVeigh and Gary Rohan. McVeigh has a calf injury and tried to shake it off in the 2nd quarter, but couldn’t play on. Rohan’s injury was all the more serious. After flying for a mark at the Paddington end of the SCG, Rohan appeared to either cop a knock or landed awkwardly and fell to the ground unable to move. His right leg in the knee region looked to be troubling him as he was medi-cabbed off the ground and ended the game with his leg heavily bandaged, on crutches and on the bench. Swans coach John Longmire said afterwards it was up to medical scans to determine the significance of the injury. It didn’t look good for Rohan. If he does miss the rest of the season it will be a cruel blow as he has been an effective Sydney player with his explosive speed and goal sense.
You OK mate? Swans players re-assure Gary Rohan who copped a nasty leg injury that could be season ending. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was apparent very early on in the game that the Swans were “on”. In first 8 minutes of the game Tom Papley, Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan kicked their team’s first goals. The Crows had to wait until the 10 minute mark before they had their first major via skipper Taylor Walker. Sydney were hard at the ball in the contest and then when they broke away from the congestion were able to find running players in the clear such as Isaac Heeney, George Hewitt and Tom Mitchell. The other pleasing thing for Sydney was they had several individual goal- kickers, illustrating how they share the scoring duties leaving opposition defenses at sixes and sevens at trying to cover all forwards.
A great example of the offensive pressure Sydney applied on the Adelaide defense. Photo: Jodie Newell
Things weren’t going to get any easier for Adelaide in the second quarter. Whilst they kicked the first goal of the quarter via Tom Lynch, they lost two key defenders in Daniel Talia and Jake Lever in the spate of under 15 minutes. Both players copped nasty leg injuries that saw them hobble off the field and they played no further part in the game. One could argue that with these significant injuries and against a threatening Sydney forward line that their game was over, but to the Crows credit they battled on courageously. Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson worked extremely hard around the contests and their efforts have to be praised in keeping their team’s feint chances alive. Both Sloane and Thompson made 9 tackles for game and had 20+ disposals, whilst Crouch was easily the Crows best with 34 disposals and 5 tackles.
The hard working Scott Thompson (with ball) kept Adelaide’s feint hopes alive. Photo: Jodie Newell
Sydney’s defense also has to be praised for their game. Last week the GWS Giants did a number on a normally stable and at times impenetrable defensive structure. All-Australian Dane Rampe was so out of sorts last week but at the SCG on Saturday night it was normal service resumed as he teamed up well with Heath Grundy, Alex Lloyd and Aliir Aliir. Whilst the Swans defense played well, Aliir made some nervous errors. He turned the ball over and his kicking at times was tentative. One has to remember that Aliir has only played 13 games of footy which includes 2 finals and whilst not excusing his mistakes, even Aliir could be seen admonishing himself after a turnover and will be better for the experience.
Sydney’s Gary Rohan in full flight. His intensity & scorching pace will be missed. Photo: Jodie Newell
Crows superstar Eddie Betts who had been mostly unsighted for the first two quarters, began to asset his ominous goal-kicking prowess. If the Crows were going to make a miraculous comeback, it had to be on the back of Betts who kicked two goals for the term. The game was still up for grabs yet the Crows harmed their chances with inaccurate kicking posting 4 goals 5 behinds when two of those shots could have been majors.
Come the final term and Sydney quickly closed down any threat of losing the game. Tom Papley kicked the term’s first goal, then Ben McGlynn kicked a superb, clutch, set shot goal at the top of the 50 metre arc. It went straight through the middle and any chance Adelaide had of winning this game was very dim. Again to to the Crows credit they did fight the game out. Goals to Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron ensured that the game wasn’t a blow-out. Sydney ran out impressive 36-point victors over a gallant, but depleted Adelaide side.
Josh Kennedy (front right) worked tirelessly in the Swans 36 pt win over Adelaide. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was a gutsy win for the Swans who also had two key players out. They now have a 6 day break to figure who to bring in for the massive preliminary final against Geelong next Friday night. Dean Towers and James Rose come to mind. One wonders if Kurt Tippett (hairline fracture of jaw) will be fit enough to return. He could be seen walking around the ground and in the rooms moving freely and he looked to be in no pain. Key defender Callum Mills is a slim chance to return after copping a hamstring injury last week. Ruckman Callum Sinclair and Zak Jones are other names for possible inclusion. Sydney face the classic finals dilemma of taking a risk with injured players. With the stakes at an ultimate high of a Grand Final berth, will they roll the dice?
Under the pump. Swans forward George Hewitt under pressure from Crows defender Tom Lynch (right). Photo: Jodie Newell
SYDNEY SWANS 7.3 10.5 12.9 18.10 (118)
ADELAIDE 3.2 4.4 8.9 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Lance Franklin 4, Max Papley 4, Ben McGlynn 3, Xavier Richards 2, Gary Rohan, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery, Tom Mitchell, Isaac Heeney
Adelaide: Eddie Betts 3, Charlie Cameron 2, Tom Lynch 2,Taylor Walker 2, Mitch McGovern 2, Scott Thompson
BEST
Sydney Swans: Josh Kennedy, Isaac Heeney, Ben McGlynn
Adelaide: Matt Crouch, Scott Thomson, Rory Sloane
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Jarrad McVeigh (calf), Gary Rohan (knee)
Adelaide: Jake Lever (ankle), Daniel Talia (leg)
Reports: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide) for rough conduct on Ben McGlynn (Sydney Swans) in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Simon Meredith, Scott Jeffery
VERDICT: The folks in lime didn’t have a good night. Confusing and inconsistent are the words we’d best describe Messers. Farmer, Meredith and Jeffery’s adjudications. Frees favored Adelaide 19-12. A couple of what looked to be simple contested marks were awarded as holds in favor of the Crows, yet on replay they were innocuous. These guys will be lucky to get a guernsey in the grand final.
Official crowd: 38,136 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Paddington, New South Wales. Australia.
