We bring you everything making the newspapers around the country in the latest Swans in the media. 

Family ties make extended contract no-brainer for Papley
Tom Decent
SMH, July 25

Tom Papley has more red and white in his veins than most of his Sydney teammates, which he says made it an easy decision to re-sign with the Swans until the end of 2018.

Papley, who joined the Swans as the No.14 pick in (last) year’s (rookie) draft, has signed a two-year deal which will keep him in Sydney for another couple of seasons.

Although Sydney were the only genuine club in the running to secure the future services of the 20-year-old small forward, Papley says he never considered heading anywhere else given his family ties to the Bloods.

His grandfather Max Papley featured in 59 games for South Melbourne between 1964 and 1967, while his other grandfather, Jeff Bray, also played for the club in the mid-1960s. ‘‘As soon as I got offered it, it was a pretty easy decision to say yes,’’ Papley said. ‘‘It’s a great club and hopefully I can be here for a long time. How they’ve treated me is a way to give back. They gave me an opportunity and now I’ve got another contract and I’m happy to be there.’’

There has been plenty of praise for Papley this year – he impressed with three goals on debut against Collingwood in a stirring 80-point win before going on to boot 15 goals in his first 11 games of senior footy.

Papley is also feeling more at home in Sydney after moving here from Bunyip in Gippsland to sharing a place in Maroubra with fellow Swans youngsters Aliir Aliir and Colin O’Riordan.

Apprentice has served his time
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 25

THIS time last year Tom Papley was digging ditches in the freezing cold of country Victoria.

For all that hard yakka as a second-year plumbing apprentice he earned just $14 an hour.

Now he’s enjoying the lifestyle of a professional footballer and is celebrating a two-year contract extension with the Swans through to the end of 2018.

Papley wouldn’t disclose just how big his pay rise is but suggested it’s better than last year.

“It’s a bit more than an apprentice’s wages,” Papley told The Daily Telegraph.

“I was getting about $400 a week and a bit more with overtime. I don’t call footy a job because I love doing it.”

His love of the game has been clear to see every time he celebrates a goal.

The 20-year-old has been a revelation since being taken with pick 14 in last year’s rookie draft.

After playing every game in the NAB Challenge he was elevated to the senior list and lined up in Round 1 against Collingwood.

He has barely put a foot wrong since then playing 11 games and earning a Rising Star nomination in Round 5 after picking up 20 possessions and kicking two goals.

Some simple advice from coach John Longmire echoing the great John Kennedy has stayed with him.

“John said be a doer,” Papley said.

Buddy system: Franklin to fore as Swans sneak home
Tom Decent
SMH, July 24

Lance Franklin helped the Sydney Swans repel a valiant Carlton outfit and prevent a major upset with four goals in a six-point win at the SCG on Saturday.

Twenty-eight unanswered points to begin the third term kick-started a slow Swans side who had to overcome an ever-improving Carlton unit that almost ended a five-year drought against Sydney.

Carlton’s Dylan Buckley kicked a behind with 60 seconds remaining on the clock to reduce the margin to just a goal, however the Swans held their nerve, something that it cannot be said they have done in a number of other tight matches this season, to get themselves back in the winner’s circle and back in the top four.

‘‘The confidence to be able to win that game is important,’’ said Swans coach John Longmire. ‘‘To be able to do it the way we did, it was good, but it’s about looking at the game in its entirety and making sure that what got us right in the hunt in that third quarter was pretty simple footy. It was just our real fierce energy.’’

That's just foursome
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 24

FOUR goals from Lance Franklin has helped the Swans dodge a bullet and down a very brave and much improved Carlton by six points at a very windy SCG.

After losing their last two matches at their home ground in the dying minutes against the Western Bulldogs by four points and to Hawthorn by five a third heartbreaker for Sydney looked on the cards.

But a key intercept mark from Callum Mills and some smart ball use with Isaac Heeney helped them run down the clock in the pulsating final minute of the match.

It was something John Longmire’s men haven’t been able to do in the close matches this year.

The Blues haven’t beaten Sydney in five years nor have the Swans lost three in a row at the SCG since 2009. But the visitors almost produced a massive upset with their relentless pressure and enormous work rate which forced the Swans into errors in possession.

Franklin’s four goals were crucial in the tight contest but it was Josh Kennedy’s relentless work around the ground which helped hold out Carlton who had their midfield heroes as well with Kade Simpson, Patrick Cripps, Bryce Gibbs and Sam Docherty.

Kennedy finished with 34 possessions including a massive 23 contested. It was the third match in a row the Swans ball magnet has topped the 20 contested possessions. He was given plenty of support from Luke Parker who’s two goals proved vital in the close contest.

Hunger fills his locker
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 23

WHEN a team is blooding a lot of new talent they are usually in re-building mode but that’s clearly not the case with the Sydney Swans.

Maroubra local Jordan Foote will become the seventh Swan to make his debut this year when Sydney host Carlton at the SCG in a match where victory will see the Swans back in the AFL top four.

The 20-year-old academy product says he’s had his sights on the top grade for more than a year.

“I’m here to play senior footy,” Foote told The Saturday Telegraph.

“I’m not content to play reserves. I set that goal for myself and it’s come true. I set the goal and the end of last year when I was told I was getting another year at the Swans. I felt like I had done enough to get that far, it gave me the confidence to go the extra step.”

Foote is the son of former Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL) player David Foote and grew up playing footy for the Maroubra Saints and rugby league for Marcellin College and the Mascot Jets.

Four years ago he made the choice to focus on Aussie Rules.

“I realised I enjoyed AFL a lot more than League so I ran with it,” Foote said.

“I played League because all my mates were doing it, it was a chance to hang out with them. I always enjoyed AFL more and that’s what I wanted to focus on.”

Things looking up for Rohan after dreadful deja vu
Andrew Wu
SMH, July 23

For the first time in a long time Gary Rohan has confidence in his body. He feels stronger, more powerful and can run fast without fearing that his hamstrings will fray, but it took another morale-sapping injury for him to get to this point.

If it's true that good things come to those who wait then there must surely be a pot of gold around the corner for Rohan. Since making his debut in 2010, he has played 69 of a possible 163 games. Ben Cunnington, his Geelong Falcons teammate who was drafted by North Melbourne one pick ahead of him, has played just on double that. The man picked immediately after him, West Coast's Brad Sheppard, last week played his 100th.

As far as injuries go, Rohan had been through much worse but there was something about his last setback that really hit him hard. It was the dreadful sense of deja vu.

Rohan had completed the first half of pre-season without dramas. He was coming off a season in which he played a personal best 18 games, several of which he had made a significant impact. A big 2016 beckoned. Then his hamstring went. Again.

"I started pre-season pretty well then my hammy tendon let me down," Rohan says. "I had a good eight weeks off to get that back. It flattened me pretty bad, thinking it's another year I'm going in injured."