We bring you all you need to know from the newspapers around the country in the latest Swans in the media.
Rest assured ‘cooked’ Swan ready for finals
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, August 8
ISAAC Heeney admits he’s mentally and physically “cooked’’ after every game he plays.
It’s easy to forget the supremely gifted Novocastrian is only 20 years old and in just his second year of elite football.
But a much-needed rest and run in the reserves has Heeney refreshed and ready to help take the Swans deep into the finals.
The Swans are still a chance to take the minor premiership after Hawthorn’s shock loss to Melbourne on Saturday.
The Hawks have opened the door for Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong and GWS, who all have much better percentages.
Heading into the finals Heeney’s form is a massive plus for coach John Longmire, who now has the perfect foil for Lance Franklin up forward.
Heeney was outstanding in the 67-point demolition of Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday, picking up a career-best 25 disposals, taking eight marks and kicking two goals.
“This is where we want to finish the season strong,” Heeney told The Daily Telegraph.
“We want to go into the finals with confidence and the last two games we’ve played have given us that. Fremantle away and Port Adelaide at home when they were on a good streak does help.”
Heeney rediscovers his hot form to become a finals threat for Swans
Andrew Wu and James Buckley
SMH, August 8
Sydney youngster Isaac Heeney is looming as a major finals weapon for the Swans after emerging from an alarming form slump in emphatic fashion.
The second-year star felt the pinch mid-season but a month out from September action has rediscovered the form that made him such a vital player early in the opening rounds. Heeney was among the best afield in the Swans’ crushing win on the weekend, impressing with his appetite for the contest and bite around goals.
His 25 possessions and two goals followed a four-goal haul against Fremantle, continuing a form reversal that started late in the match against Carlton. ‘‘He was full of energy today and he’s a massive competitor,’’ Swans coach John Longmire said after the game.
‘‘He was leading up, hitting the ball hard and he was back to his best, it’s a great sign for us. Early in the year he was playing pretty well, he was launching at the ball like he was today, and that’s his strength.
‘‘He’s so composed when the ball hits the deck too, he’s able to launch at it and still be first at the crumb, which is a unique skill to have. He was certainly doing that today and competing at ground level pretty well,’’ he said.
Swans on power surge
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, August 7
SYDNEY Swans handed out another footballing lesson yesterday, smashing Port Adelaide by 67 points.
Sydney were clearly in finals mode while the visitors looked like they were planning their end-of-season trip.
The home side put the defensive clamps on to restrict Port to their lowest score against the Swans — just 33 points.
It was also Sydney’s second-biggest win against the Power, coming just one point short of beating the 68-point margin of 2008.
“We wanted to finish the job,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“It’s a 67-point win over Port Adelaide.
“They’re a good team, they’ve been able to score heavily this year, they’re fourth on average goals and third on points scored against.
“To come away with a win like that is a really good sign.”
Defence the key to side’s push for premiership joy
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, August 7
THE Swans might have one of the most potent forwards in the game in Lance Franklin but it’s their defence which is providing the foundation for their premiership push in 2016.
After keeping Fremantle to just 47 points last week, John Longmire’s men produced an encore performance against Port Adelaide yesterday, holding them to a season low 33, also their lowest score against Sydney.
“Our team defence was really strong,” Longmire said after the game.
“Our back six were really good. Port is a powerful side they can score heavily so to be able to get it right was very pleasing.”
Rain, hail or shine, Swans towering above the pack
James Buckley
SMH, August 7
On paper, Sydney’s clash with Port Adelaide at a wet SCG looked a potential banana skin. The reality was far different. On paper, Saturday afternoon’s clash looked a potential banana skin for the Sydney Swans up against Port Adelaide’s unique ruck configuration and tall forward line at a slippery SCG.
In reality the Swans ramped their game up to the next level, and dished out a sublimely orchestrated 67-point thrashing of a very disappointing Power.
The ruck contest never really materialised with Sam Naismith and Toby Nankervis rotating with precision to negate Jackson Trengove’s potential influence.
Let’s not forget this inexperienced duo is number three and four on the Swans depth chart for ruckmen, with Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair still on the injured list.
‘‘We came in today knowing that [Jackson] Trengove has been fantastic in the ruck for Port Adelaide, we thought our boys were really good today,’’ Swans coach John Longmire said. ‘‘A couple of young ruckmen doing a good job for us and our midfielders really noticed that.’’
Hey bro, I want in for a big farewell
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, August 6
TED Richards will call it quits at the end of the season but the chance of playing alongside his brother Xavier in finals is motivating him to play out the year and win his spot back in the senior team.
Richards was dropped to the reserves to make way for Xavier after the Round 17 game against Hawthorn and hasn’t been able to win his place back since.
An All-Australian representative and premiership player in 2012, Richards described the one game they played together in Round 14, 2013 against Carlton as one of his greatest memories.
“That is a genuine big carrot to play on,” Richards said.
“It has been one of the highlights of my career that we (Xavier and I) got to play a few years ago together for 10 minutes, where he came off the bench.
“As insignificant as it might sound us running out together has been a real highlight of my life. The carrot is there for us to potentially play some more senior football together.”
Selfless Swans defender Richards to hang up boots
James Buckley
SMH, August 6
On the eve of announcing his retirement to the AFL world on Friday morning, veteran Swans defender Ted Richards sent Lance Franklin a text offering his jersey number – 25 – for next season and beyond.
Before becoming Sydney teammates in 2014, Richards and Franklin enjoyed numerous tussles in the Hawthorn forward line, most notably their engaging battle in Sydney’s 2012 grand final win. As it turns out, Buddy has no interest in switching jumpers.
‘‘He didn’t reply to the text but the opportunity’s still there for him,’’ Richards said after announcing this season would be his last. ‘‘There’s a quote I like, I read it once about boxers, ‘You’re not great unless you’ve beaten someone better than yourself’. I’m not saying I’m great but the games you come off as a defender and you know you’ve probably beaten a forward that is genuinely better than yourself, I do get a lot of satisfaction from those games.
‘‘I kept Bud goalless in 2012 once. I still derive a lot of satisfaction from that day.’’
