Swans and Giants at loggerheads over hosting final
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 17
The AFL is facing a potential finals fixture headache with a storm brewing between the Swans and Giants over where an all-Sydney final should be played.
Sydney have called for the game to be played at the SCG irrespective of who earns hosting rights as the venue has a larger capacity than Spotless Stadium. The Giants, however, are adamant if they earn a final it should be played at their home ground, unless ANZ Stadium is available.
The Swans are also content for a derby final to be played there, however there are doubts whether the venue would be ready in time having not hosted an AFL match in two years.
It's believed the AFL has not ruled out using ANZ Stadium, which hosted the historic Swans-Giants qualifying final in 2016, but sources have indicated it is highly unlikely.
The league had a contract with ANZ Stadium to play all Sydney finals there but that finished in 2016.
The venue is now in a rectangular configuration and would require stands to be rolled back and new turf laid to stage an AFL game. It's believed the costs for the changes would be around $500,000.
Family first: Swans turn back on prime-time games
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 17
Sydney have asked the AFL to give them fewer home games at night next season so they can have more family-friendly fixtures.
The Swans will have had nine night games at the SCG this season after its round 23 clash with Hawthorn was scheduled to be played under lights against their wishes.
While most clubs would love to have so much exposure in prime time for television, the Swans are conscious of ensuring more children can attend their games, which is difficult at night.
The club had been keen to stage the game against the Hawks at an earlier time but were never going to win that argument over Channel Seven, given they are a ratings hit and the importance of the match.
Both clubs could be playing for a top four position next week, though the Swans could also be fighting for survival if they lose to Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
The Swans see a 7-4 divide between night and day games as the right balance to give their commercial partners exposure to a national TV audience while also allowing families to attend games.
"We've had those discussions with the AFL, the AFL are certainly conscious of a need to have a more balanced fixture for us," Swans chief Andrew Ireland said. "To be frank, Channel Seven has first right to pick Friday, Saturday night games."
Not to be: Kelly suffers sling, arrow of outrageous fortune
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 17
The Giants have lost Josh Kelly for the Sydney derby, but coach Leon Cameron is backing their replacements to ace the test in an ‘‘A-grade’’ showdown.
Sydney regain Zak Jones from suspension, but did not pick veteran backman Heath Grundy, who will play in the reserves for match conditioning after missing two weeks to focus on his mental wellbeing.
Kelly, the Giants’ reigning best and fairest winner, is ‘‘symptomfree’’ but ran out of time to pass strict concussion protocols to face a resurgent Sydney tomorrow. He should be fit to play next week against Melbourne.
‘‘Josh has progressed really well in the last couple of days,’’ Cameron said. ‘‘By late Wednesday we had to make the decision that if he hadn’t passed everything, in terms of the concussion protocols, then time runs out and time will run out for Saturday’s game.
‘‘Maybe if it was a nine-day break rather than a seven-day break, Josh would definitely play. The main thing is that every day he’s got better and better and he’s now symptom-free but under the protocols he’ll run out of time.
‘‘We’ve just got to make sure we look after him in preparation for the week after.’’
Jones, Robbo keep Grundy in ‘reggies’
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, August 17
JOHN Longmire has decided to ease Heath Grundy back to football through the NEAFL rather than the heat of Saturday’s Sydney Derby at Spotless Stadium.
Grundy has missed the Swans’ last two matches after taking leave to deal with mental health issues.
After the massive blow of losing Alex Johnson to his sixth ACL injury last Sunday, Grundy was discussed as a replacement key defender but the Swans coach has decided to go with the speed and mobility of Zak Jones and Dan Robinson.
Jones has missed the past two matches through suspension.
“Zak gives us some important run and carry through the midfield of down back,” Longmire said.
“Dan has been in and out a bit. He can play a number of roles in the midfield and has been a bit unlucky this year. We’ve been pleased with our kids right through this year.”
Longmire will again rely on his band of young and inexperienced players to lock away a finals spot, and potentially snare a top-four finish if they can win against the in-form Giants and follow up in the final round against Hawthorn at home.
Rookies Tom McCartin and Ben Ronke have starred for Sydney in recent weeks along with Jordan Dawson, Will Hayward, Ollie Florent and Aliir Aliir.
“As long as they continue to play good footy against the best footy teams at this time of the year it’s a real step forward for them,” Longmire said.
“The Giants have been able to score heavily at stoppages and general play over the last month. They are a hard-running team with quality players all over the ground. They know what we’re about and we know what they’re about it’s just a matter of who plays their best on the day.”
From fiery friends to derby enemies
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, August 17
GIANTS warriors Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson brought the Sydney Derby to a flashpoint in the 2016 qualifying final when they went toe-to-toe with the Swans’ two biggest stars, Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy.
Mumford sledged Buddy Franklin and Johnson decked Josh Kennedy as simmering tensions between the rivals boiled over with stakes at an all-time high. The Giants staked their finals credentials by clearing out for a 36-point victory.
Saturday at Spotless Stadium the duo will sit in opposite coaches’ boxes - they both retired from playing at the end of last season - with Johnson now one of Sydney boss John Longmire’s assistants and Mumford the ruck coach at GWS.
The move to pair Johnson with fellow coaching recruit and retired West Coast Eagle Dean Cox in Sydney’s set-up this season has proven a masterstroke. Now instead of getting under Franklin’s skin, Johnson works with the superstar forward looking for holes in the GWS defence.
“To be honest, Buddy is the player who wants the most feedback,” Johnson said. “He’s the first one in the office asking me what he can improve on and what did I see.
“He’s also a great mentor for those young players and helps them work on their craft.
“I’ve almost had a blank canvas on the Swans forward line. Tom McCartin is the youngest in the competition, Ben Ronke is a debutant this year, Will Hayward is 19 and Tom Papley is only 21.”
