Sydney Swans utility Robbie Fox produced a starring display as his side stumbled in a 28-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday afternoon.
The 26-year-old was a clear stand-out for the Swans in the Blacktown International Sportspark clash, posting 27 disposals, eight tackles and a goal in a thriving midfield performance.
It means in the last two months, Fox has played five senior games, missed one week due to injury and averaged 30 disposals across two NEAFL appearances.
Swans development coach Lloyd Perris lamented a lack of contributors in Saturday’s 16.9 (105) to 12.5 (77) defeat, but he hailed the performance of the in-form Fox.
“Robbie had a pretty solid game and kept going in the last quarter,” Perris told Swans Media post-match.
“When the damage had been done on the scoreboard he kept trying to get the ball going for us and getting us running and moving, so he can hold his head up high.
“He’s very determined to win back a spot in the AFL side. He’s obviously disappointed to be playing in the NEAFL but he’s doing everything he can. It was good to see him keep digging in when we were challenged as a team today.”
Sydney recruit Daniel Menzel, who returned to the NEAFL after a three-match stint in the AFL, finished with 13 touches and a goal, while former Sydney co-captain Kieren Jack tallied 18 possessions.
First-year forward Sam Wicks was given few opportunities due to an uninspiring midfield display, but the QBE Sydney Swans Academy product laid a match-high nine tackles in a strong show of pressure.
The best of the current Swans Academy cohort was Jackson Barling, who snagged a Sydney-high three goals.
Sydney led by 13 points at quarter-time and 11 at the long break, before the away side raced to 12 second-half goals to the Swans’ six en route to their convincing win.
Perris highlighted defence as his side’s most telling downfall.
“I think we defended the way we wanted to in the first half. Our pressure was really high and we were able to control their ball movement, but that really dropped away in the third quarter,” Perris said.
“They challenged us and we didn’t respond. We didn’t defend the way we wanted to, they were able to move the ball as freely as they wanted, and they impacted on the scoreboard on top of that.”
Sydney speedster James Bell was concussed early in the opening term, played no further part in the game and will be assessed in the coming days.
In the meantime, his teammates will cast their attention to next Saturday night’s match against the Northern Territory Thunder in the Top End.
Gold Coast Suns 0.2 4.5 12.6 16.9 (105)
Sydney Swans 2.3 6.4 7.5 12.5 (77)
Goals – Sydney: J Barling 3, H McLean 2, Z Foot, R Fox, C Hirst, C Kilpatrick, D Menzel, J Rayner, M Sheather
