Sydney Swans debutants have made a knack of hitting the scoreboard.
Nearly 12 months ago, Isaac Heeney kicked the winning goal against Essendon in the round one thriller at ANZ Stadium. The Swans’ other three debutants of 2015 – Dan Robinson, Toby Nankervis and James Rose – also enjoyed a goal in their first games.
On Saturday night at the SCG, Tom Papley and George Hewett, two of the three that pulled on an AFL jumper for the first time, kicked majors to help the Swans cruise to an 80-point win over Collingwood.
Then Papley kicked two more, finishing with the second highest tally of the night behind Lance Franklin’s four-goal haul.
Papley’s stunning debut also included 11 touches, five marks and five tackles. The small forward adding much needed zip, grunt and crumbing power under the feet of the key forwards.
The 19-year-old, coach John Longmire said, did everything asked of him ahead of the opening round clash.
“We wouldn’t of thought when we recruited him that he’d come out kick three and be as effective as early as what he was," Longmire said in the post-match press conference.
“He had a really good pre-season, the coaches have worked hard with him and he went about working on the areas that he needed to work on.
“He’s that small pressure forward who can also hit the scoreboard.”
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Papley never looked out of place or overawed with playing in front of 33,857 fans, the No. 41 taking his chances when given one.
His first goal came from a classic rove and goal before an opportunistic kick off the ground gave him a second to celebrate. His third was a product of impressive composure and innate goal sense, playing on from a mark and delivering from 40m out.
“I was lucky to pop up with a couple,” he added. “I thought I played my role, putting defensive pressure on the opposition. That’s what my focus was and goals came from there.”
Post-match the rooms were abuzz with family and friends of the players; among them was Papley’s immediate family including grandfather and South Melbourne great Max Papley.
In front of those who have supported his football the most, for the Club he grew up adoring, Papley could not have asked for a better debut.
“I can’t really describe the feeling,” Papley told SwansTV.
“Five minutes to play getting tingles all through your body. It’s what you dream of playing for the team you barracked for.
“It’s one of the best feelings I have had in my life.”
Papley’s fellow debutants in Callum Mills and Hewett also impressed, finishing with 18 and 15 disposals respectively.
