PORT MELBOURNE 10.5 (65)
SYDNEY 10.12 (72)
It was the first meeting between old neighbours in 126 years, or 45,857 days to be exact, and it was befitting of such an occasion as Sydney held off a gallant Port Melbourne by seven points in a tight VFL clash at ETU Stadium on Saturday.
The Swans, who had last faced Port Melbourne as the South Melbourne Bloods on September 19, 1896, were wasteful early and trailed by 13 points late in the second quarter as they slipped to 2.9 when Borough late inclusion and debutant Cody Szust kicked his second goal.
But on the back of the late withdrawal of key back Fletcher Roberts, Port simply didn’t have the tall timber to go with the Swans as Logan McDonald (11 marks, 3.4) and Joel Amartey (six marks, 4.2) dominated the air up forward, Callum Sinclair (16 disposals, 40 hitouts) controlled the ruck and Will Gould (18 touches, seven marks, nine rebounds, countless spoils) was impassable in defence.
McDonald was unstoppable, with 10 of his 11 marks being contested, and it was only poor conversion that stopped him kicking a big bag, with the only downside for Sydney being a hamstring injury to Lachlan McAndrew.
The midfields were evenly matched, with Matt Roberts (32, eight clearances, five inside-50s), Ryan Clarke (26, nine tackles, 10 clearances, nine inside-50s) and Dylan Stephens (22) were in fine fettle for Sydney and Eli Templeton (35 disposals, nine tackles, 10 clearances, six inside-50s, one goal) being everywhere for Port Melbourne after the loss of skipper Tom O’Sullivan to a hamstring injury.
Marcus Lentini (30, six tackles, six clearances, five inside-50s, one goal), Corey Wagner (26, five marks, six rebounds) and Harvey Hooper (22, eight inside-50s, one goal) were also outstanding for the home team and Zane Carter had a terrific debut with 20 touches.
The victory over Port Melbourne is the side's second of the season. The Swans VFL side will face the Northern Bullants on Sunday, April 17 at Blacktown International Sportspark in Round 4. First bounce is 1:05pm.
