1. Were the Swans playing ducks and drakes?
Ruckman Mike Pyke returned to the Swans' side this week after missing the past two games with a knee injury, but he was nowhere to be seen in the pre-match warm up. The big man has been struggling with his knee for the past two months, and when the team's emergency James Rose was seen kitted up in the players' race, the buzz around the SCG was that Pyke was going to be a very late withdrawal, handing Rose his senior debut. When the Swans emerged to crash through their banner the Canadian was amongst the group and took his place at the first bounce in the Swans' forward line. His impact on the match was minimal until a crucial set shot late in the final term, but it seems his dodgy knee is still far from 100%.
MATCH REPORT: Swans defeat Magpies in gutsy 11-point win
2. Brown headed for MRP trouble, Parker's season in doubt
It's becoming a familiar story whenever Luke Parker takes to the field, and his courage might be starting to give his family, teammates and coach cause for concern. With no regard for his own well-being, the reigning club champion ran back with the flight of the ball in the opening quarter and was almost split in two by Magpie Nathan Brown. The Collingwood defender will have some worries with the MRP, but another heavy knock might have some repercussions for Parker down the track. The footy world loves the way the 22 year-old plays his footy and so do the Swans – he's the youngest player ever voted in the club's leadership group – so hopefully Parker fearlessness doesn't hurt his longevity in the game. Parker's night was to get far worse when he eventually left the ground on a stretcher with what looked a serious leg injury after an awkward tackle early in the final term. Jarrad McVeigh was pessimistic after the game on Parker's chances of playing again this year.
3. The battle of the Reids
Sam and Ben Reid were one of two sets of brothers trotting around on the SCG in round 20, with Kieren and Brandon Jack also part of the Swans' line-up alongside the younger Reid. While the pair have spent plenty of time in defence for their respective sides, they both played forward and hit the scoreboard in the opening half. Sam eventually finished with 15 touches, six marks and kicked two important goals for the Swans, while Ben was subbed out in the last quarter without having any significant impact on the game. The Swans won a vitally important match and the younger Reid took the bragging rights.
4. Mitchell brings his own footy
Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell has always been a ball magnet, but he took it to a new level on the Friday night stage. The nuggety left footer burst out of the blocks with 14 touches in the opening term, and went into the long break with 27 to his name, and on track for a half century at the SCG. He ran out of steam after half time however and didn't get to raise the bat, finishing with 15 kicks and 26 handballs for a total of 41 possessions, 18 of them contested. It was a fantastic individual game from the 22-year-old, and in such a tight contest his first half exploits were just about match-winning.
5. Pendles hobbled but all class
The Collingwood captain looked hampered by a lower back problem all night and just didn't look himself, but battled through. Pendlebury spent plenty of time on the bench, and at times looked like he might be subbed out of the game. The skipper went forward in the final term and kicked an inspirational goal for the Pies to give them a lead, but despite a 31-possession game he couldn't will his men over the line. The loss just about spells the end for Collingwood's season but it was through no fault of their leader.
