Hurt by the Hawks
For the third time this season the Sydney Swans have been pipped at the post, losing by less than a goal with the final kick of the game against Hawthorn on Thursday night.
Those Hawks have proven again and again that they’re the masters of ‘finding a way’ while a lack of poise and some costly mistakes have left the Swans scratching their heads.
Saturday’s loss to Hawthorn means Sydney not only missed out on a chance of occupying top spot on the ladder but now drop outside of the top four for the first time this season.
Because of the congestion within the top-eight, every win, loss or draw from here on in can be crucial or detrimental to a side’s finals fortunes this September.
The road ahead
Sydney has emerged from a difficult period of the season having played the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Hawthorn in consecutive weeks.
A resounding win against the Cats in Geelong sandwiched between two last gasp defeats against genuine contenders could be classed as either a success or failure depending on who you ask.
The playing group would have set out to win all three and, had it not been for a few costly mistakes at the death, that could have been achieved.
Instead, Sydney slip to an 11-5 win-loss record which equals three other teams with six rounds remaining in the home and away season.
On Saturday, the road to the finals begins with Carlton at the SCG. Fremantle (Domain Stadium), Port Adelaide (SCG), St Kilda (Etihad Stadium), North Melbourne (Blundstone Arena) and Richmond (SCG) follow.
Carlton
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire is preparing for a side “up and about” and fresh from giving a genuine finals contender a serious shake on Sunday.
“We saw them come really close in the last quarter against West Coast,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference. “They had opportunities in the last quarter, they were up and about so we expect a pretty tough time. It’s a much improved Carlton – the whole football world has seen that.”
It starts in the engine room for the Blues with the likes of Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Patrick Cripps. The return of full-forward Levi Casboult from suspension and the poise of defender Jacob Weitering also means they have marking power at both ends of the ground
That balance of experienced players and youth make them a quality side when up and going and should give coach Brendan Bolton some confidence going into the Round 18 clash despite Carlton going the past four years without a win in Sydney.
Jacob Weitering has lived up to his No. 1 draft pick credentials this season.
Here comes Heeney…
Isaac Heeney hasn’t played AFL football for the past two weeks but that could change when teams are selected on Thursday night following his standout performance for the NEAFL Swans.
Heeney starred with 29 disposals and two goals playing in the midfield in Saturday’s encounter with the Gold Coast at Blacktown International Sportspark.
It may just be the spark the 20-year-old needed having had a quiet time of it prior to the coaches managing him ahead of the trip to Geelong in Round 16.
Half-back Zak Jones has been ruled out for the next four to six weeks meaning there will be at least one change made. Whether that’s Heeney or Harry Cunningham, Harry Marsh or another player waiting in the wings only time will tell.
Isaac Heeney has put his name in the mix.
Thank you
A crowd of 42,314 turned out to watch Thursday night's match of the round between the then top-two in the competition.
It was the third largest AFL crowd ever at the SCG and the biggest since 1997.
Twilight football obviously brings out the best in the SCG and our amazing Sydney Swans supporters with the famous venue looking pristine under the setting sun and bright lights of the Moore Park precinct.
Asked whether he's a fan of Thursday night football on Tuesday, coach John Longmire replied: "It was an amazing feeling here, to have the SCG absolutely packed for 1 v 2 was absolutely sensational."
Just a shame about the result.
The SCG crowd was out in full force on Thursday night.
