There is something magical about the AFL finals in September. The tough journey of the regular home and away season is over and a new phase begins. There’s a different feel,especially the weather. In Sydney on Saturday, the sun was out, the fragrance of jasmine and other spring flower aromas wafted in the sleepy back streets of Paddington. In Woollahra you could have been forgiven thinking it was Essendon. The famous red sash was everywhere as Bombers fans casually sauntered to the designated pre-game drinks station of the Woollahra Hotel. Keven Sheedy was in attendance and was mobbed by the throng. Sheeds happily posed for selfies and general football banter. We captured a pose where he was seen “praying” possibly for a miracle to beat the Sydney Swans who are in red-hot form.
Praying for a miracle. Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy mixing with the Bomber faithful in Woollhara. Photo: Jodie Newell
Sadly for Kevin and his fellow Essendon fans, those calls for divine intervention passed by, as the Swans methodically and clinically shut down Essendon at the Sydney Cricket and won the game by 65 points. Lance Franklin sent shivers into the hearts of Swans fans early when he appeared to be carrying a nasty leg injury. Buddy was benched as the Swans medicos carried out their diagnosis. Thankfully it was determined to be a cork thigh, and Lance, (who hopped on a portable gym bike to pedal out the soreness) was able to play out the game, booting 4 goals and looked unstoppable. Another story line was the end of an Essendon era, with Jobe Watson hanging up the boats after 220 games. Joining him was James Kelly. Kelly who joined the Dons from Geelong finished up with 313 AFL games and 3 premierships with the Cats.
Unstoppable. Despite a cork thigh, Lance Franklin was red hot in front of goals for Sydney. Photo: Jodie Newell
Essendon looked sharp in the early stages of the game. Joe Daniher took a spectacular mark and booted a goal, whilst midfielders in Darcy Parish and Dyson Heppell were getting plenty of the ball. The Dons looked the more settled. Sydney were quick to respond though and snapped into action. Surely Sydney’s most improved player has to be Dean Towers. We’ve noted his contributions over the past couple of years. We never understood how he was left out of last year’s grand final. The win against Richmond at the MCG earlier this year was in no small part due to Dean’s application to the contest. On Saturday at the SCG, Towers kicked 3 crucial goals and was doing everything. He was in the backline, in the midfield, up forward and surprisingly contested in the ruck against Tom Bellchambers winning two hit outs. It was a remarkable performance considering it was a finals game.
Up There Heeney! Isaac Heeney takes a solid grab for the Swans. Photo: Jodie Newell
Callum Sinclair was another solid contributor up forward. The match up of Sinclair and Michael Hartley was in favour of the tall Swan. He like Towers booted 3 vital goals with Essendon helpless to stop the tall forward / ruckman. Sinclair was missing in Sydney’s last finals campaign and his inclusion and form has been football gold. Josh Kennedy made an indirect statement to those who thought him unworthy of All- Australian selection. Kennedy was his sensational best picking up 29 disposals and 2 goals. One play into particular was pure class. In the second term, with the ball in the inside 50 metre arc, the ball spilled where a manic Kennedy outran Zach Merrett and Jobe Watson. He gathered the ball and snapped a technically superb goal, which brought a huge roar from the Sydney faithful. The following picture sequence below illustrates how this goal was achieved.
The ball lands in the Swans forward 50. Zach Merrett of Essendon attempts to curb Josh Kennedy. Photo: Jodie Newell
Kennedy beats his opponent and gathers the ball. Photo: Jodie Newell
After gathering the ball Kennedy snaps at goal. Photo: Jodie Newell
Kennedy watches the ball sail through the goals at the Randwick end of the SCG. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was the second quarter where the game was put away by Sydney.The Swans booted 10 goals to the Bombers two. Lance Franklin shook off any fears of a serious injury by booting 4 goals. Majors to Isaac Heeney, Jake Lloyd, Callum Sinclair, Dean Towers and Josh Kennedy shut the door on season 2017 for the Dons.They went into the sheds in complete command via a 61 point lead.
Bruising affair. A bandaged David Myers clears another Swans attack. Photo: Jodie Newell
To Essendon’s credit they came out at after half-time and tried to get back into the game. They got the first crucial goal via Joe Daniher. If there was a period in the game where the Essendon’s hopes completely evaporated was when they kicked 3 consecutive behinds. Gary Rohan kicked an answering goal and after that it was just a matter of both sides playing out time. The Swans ran out 61 point winners. Essendon had one final, but important act to carry out and that was to farewall Jobe Watson and James Kelly. Sydney in true sporting fashion, joined Essendon at the Paddington end to form a guard of honour as Jobe and James were carried off to the rousing applause of all in attendance.
Thanks for the memories. Jobe Watson in the Dons sheds post-game. Photo: Jodie Newell
Sydney coach Jon Longmire thought his team’s second quarter effort was superb ” We really lifted a gear or two. We played some really strong, power footy, based on some really strong defense. We were able to be really efficient going forward taking marks in our forward 50 and hitting the scoreboard. It really was a good part of the game for us”.
Power Footy “We really lifted a gear or two in the second quarter” Swans coach John Longmire. Photo: Jodie Newell
Essendon coach John Worsfold whilst disappointed, was proud of his team ‘I feel mainly disappointment, but feel proud of the group, but really disappointed that we weren’t able to stem that dominant period that they had in the second quarter”.
Dons coach John Worsfold was all smiles pre-game at the SCG. Photo: Jodie Newell
Up Next:
Season 2017 is over for Essendon. Coach John Worsfold said after the game he’d be looking to add more “grunt” to his list and would be active in trade talks when the window came around. The Bombers will lose Jobe Watson , James Kelly and veteran Brent Stanton via retirement.
For the Sydney Swans, they travel to Melbourne and play an out of sorts Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night in a sudden death semi final. The winner will face Adelaide the following week in Adelaide in the preliminary final.
SYDNEY 3.2 13.5 17.5 19.7 (121)
ESSENDON 1.3 3.4 5.8 8.8 (56)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, Towers 3, Sinclair 3, Kennedy 2, Rohan 2, Heeney 2, Papley, Jack, Lloyd
Essendon: Daniher 3, Begley 2, Myers, Fantasia, Heppell
BEST
Sydney: Kennedy, Franklin, Towers
Essendon: Daniher, Heppell, Parish
INJURIES
Sydney: Lance Franklin (corked thigh), Isaac Heeney (nose)
Essendon: –
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brendan Hosking, Ray “Razor” Chamberlain, Simon Meredith
“Razor” Ray Chamberlain about to ball up for a ruck contest. He & his cohorts did a good job. Photo: Jodie Newell
Official crowd: 46,323 at the Sydney Cricket Ground
NB: The attendance on Saturday set a new record crowd for an AFL game at the SCG beating the 1997 round 22 game v Geelong in front of 46, 168 fans
