Ruck 'n' Roll
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 11
IT was two years between his first and second AFL games but Sydney’s Sam Naismith looks a ready-made replacement for injured ruckman Kurt Tippett.
Big man Naismith did an outstanding job on Geelong’s in-form ruckman Zac Smith in Friday night’s big win over then-premiership favourites Geelong.
The 205cm giant from Gunnedah revealed a hear-to-heart with John Longmire two years ago gave him the belief he needed to make it.
Unfortunately, injury and illness forced a two-season gap between Naismith’s debut and his second career game on Friday night, but now he’s back in the team he’s determined to hang on to his spot.
Another top-class performance against Hawthorn on Thursday night will go a long way to achieving his goal.
“I had a conversation with John at the end of the 2014 season and he called me in after the grand final and told me he wanted me in the team and he wanted me to work hard as I could to get there,” Naismith told The Daily Telegraph.
“It gave me great confidence to hear that but it’s just taken me a while to get there.”
Rookie Aliir predicted to rise from the bargain basement to top Swans
Andrew Wu
SMH, July 11
Dane Rampe believes youngster Aliir Aliir can become the next bargain basement Swan to become a long-term member of Sydney’s miserly defence.
Aliir was one of several next generation Swans who handled the big stage at Geelong with aplomb, but another major test awaits this week against Hawthorn, whom Rampe rates as still being the benchmark team of the competition.
The stakes are very high on Thursday night, with the winner to take top spot while the loser could drop out of the top four. The Swans beat the Hawks at the MCG this year but it’s been nine years since they defeated their great rival twice in the same home and away season.
‘‘The thing with Hawthorn is they find ways to win, that’s what makes them such a good team,’’ Rampe said. ‘‘They probably haven’t played their best footy but they’re a game clear. We couldn’t be better placed going into a big game, the boys are really looking forward to it.’’
Quality key defenders are supposed to be hard to find, particularly for a perennial finalist that rarely gets access to high draft picks, but there are high hopes the Swans have found one in Aliir.
It’s taken two seasons for Aliir to break into the Swans side but if he reproduces more games like the one he played against the Cats it’s unlikely he will be going back to the second-tier NEAFL any time soon.
In only his third game, Aliir earned rave reviews from judges in and outside the club for the poise he showed in such a high-pressure atmosphere.
Swans a chance to topple hot Hawks for top spot
Greg Denham
The Australian, July 11
The AFL could have a new ladder leader on Thursday night if the Swans can topple Hawthorn for a second time this season before an expected sellout crowd at the SCG.
Sydney’s chances of winning the blockbuster increased significantly with forward Isaac Heeney completing a training session yesterday after his shock omission in their impressive win against Geelong last Friday night when he was medically managed to stay at home.
Swans general manager of football operations Tom Harley yesterday told The Australian he expected Heeney to take his place provided he gets through tomorrow’s main training session.
Heeney has been battling general soreness for a fortnight as well as knee tendinitis. “We all forget he’s just a second-year player,” Harley said. “We were hoping the bye would help but he didn’t quite get on top of things. However, he trained last Friday and again today and we’re expecting a full week of training from him. If he’s good on Tuesday, we’re absolutely expecting him to play.”
Swans' new breed proving their worth
Andrew Wu
SMH, July 10
Sydney’s youngsters are showing they are not just players for the future, but can be players for the now, after rewarding coach John Longmire’s bold investment in youth against Geelong.
The Swans proved they remain a genuine premiership contender, despite fielding a team on Friday night with four players yet to reach double figures and another four with less than 30 games’ experience.
The Swans’ gutsy win over the Cats has set the scene for a clash of the heavyweights against Hawthorn at the SCG on Thursday night.
While Callum Mills was again impressive, and must surely receive his Rising Star nomination this week, it was the performance of Aliir Aliir that proved the revelation.
Dean Towers, Zak Jones, Tom Papley and George Hewett also made key contributions in one of the Swans’ best wins of the year. Playing in just his third game, Aliir showed the poise of a seasoned backman, not just in his ability to at least halve one-on-one duels, but also his confidence to zone off his opponent.
He finished with 15 possessions and hardly made an error, rewarding Longmire’s faith for playing him in a key defensive post ahead of veteran Ted Richards.
‘‘He’s been unlucky going out of the team,’’ Longmire said. ‘‘He’s had a great year in our reserves, he’s really developed strongly and had a couple of tastes. He’s been able to persist. He was great last week when he went back, he had a fantastic attitude in the reserves, came back in and did a good job tonight.’’
Hawks in sights of Sydney’s starlets
Neil Cordy
Sunday Telegraph, July 10
SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire is certain the youngsters who revelled in the pressure-cooker environment of Simonds Stadium on Friday night can carry that composure into Thursday night’s blockbuster against Hawthorn at the SCG.
The Swans fielded one of their least experienced teams in years against Geelong, with eight players who had played less than 30 AFL games — four of those with less than 10 games under their belts.
Longmire said the 38-point win over one of the premiership favourites was the perfect lead-in to the top-of-the-table clash against the Hawks.
“You need those experiences in the memory bank to know how to perform over a career and our blokes got a taste of that on Friday night,” Longmire told The Sunday Telegraph.
“It’s a great experience to play Geelong at Geelong when they are red hot. They’ve been very strong there for a long time and to win there is a good start. They’ll get another taste of that on Thursday night against the Hawks.”
Relentless Swans impress in heat of battle
Herald Sun
Scott Gullan, July 9
THIS was classic Sydney.
It was all about heart, hardness, toughness, grunt, ticker, getting hands dirty ... you get the picture.
The Swans took what Geelong could serve — which included an extraordinary Patrick Dangerfield burst early — and never flinched to pull off a 38-point victory and only their second win at the Cattery since 2000.
The Swans led at every break despite the home team having periods of domination but a non-functioning forward line hampered the Cats prospects.
“It was sensational. from the first bounce we played a really good, strong brand of footy,” Sydney coach John Longmire said.
“They came at us in the second quarter, but I thought our leaders were sensational and our kids were super tonight.
“We had four under 10 games and eight under 30 and to come down and play Geelong in Geelong on a Friday night and come away with a win like that with a young group, we’re really happy.”
Tweet hell to sweet victory
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 9
KIEREN Jack got the milestone celebration he deserved, kicking the first and last goals in an inspirational 38-point win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
Jack was outstanding after a week of off-field turmoil in the lead-up to his 200th game, finishng with three goals, 23 disposals and 10 tackles.
It was Geelong’s lowest score and their biggest loss this year.
Jack showed just what a professional he is when he got down to business from the opening bounce.
His goal in the first minute was celebrated by his team mates like Nick Malceski’s premiership winning goal in the 2012 grand final and brought tears to his partner Charlotte’s eyes as she watched on with her parents.
It was an emotional time for the couple who have been embroiled in a bitter family feud with Kieren’s parents, rugby league great Garry Jack and his mother Donna.
Sadly the troubles robbed father and son of a unique double celebration, with Garry having played 244 games for the Balmain Tigers.
“I’m not the only person with this sort of problem,” Jack said after the game.
“The support from the footy club has been fantastic and I thank them for that and I’m just rapt to get the win.”
Swans honour Kieren Jack with stirring win over Geelong Cats
Andrew Wu
SMH, July 9
If football was played purely on facts and figures Sydney may as well not turned up. They were fielding one of their least experienced sides in many years, against a team with an extra week's break, at a ground where they rarely win, and Geelong nearly never lose.
But this is a game where heart and passion still matters. Against the odds, the Swans honoured Kieren Jack's 200th game by pulling off one of their finest wins of the John Longmire era and reaffirming their premiership credentials while also raising doubts over another challenger.
After a week of tumult, Jack celebrated with the first and last goal of the game. The Swans let their football do the talking with a 38-point win, their fourth victory in Geelong in 25 years and the Cats' eighth loss from their last 72 games at Simonds Stadium.
Few gave the Swans, fielding nine players yet to play 50 games, any hope of upsetting the Cats but this is a club that cannot be underestimated.
Much of the Swans' pre-game planning bore fruit. Their re-shaped forward line, which included Ted Richards, showed they could kick a winning score even with Lance Franklin not at his best.
Their less heralded types like Dean Towers, Tom Papley and Aliir Aliir also delivered. But the grunt was done by their midfield, with Tom Mitchell, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy all influential.
