Sydney Swans defender Colin O’Riordan has only ever faced fellow youngster Nick Blakey in match simulation, but he saw enough on Friday night to suggest he'd hate to oppose the rising forward on game day.
O'Riordan was particularly impressed with Blakey’s two exhilarating chase-down tackles in Sydney’s heart-stopping five-point victory over Essendon at the SCG, the first on Bombers skipper Dyson Heppell in the third term and the second on Mason Redman in the dying stages of the match.
His holding-the-ball tackle on Heppell claimed the scalp of an All Australian and best-and-fairest champion, but it was his lurching effort with less than 30 seconds left on the clock that earned the commentators’ highest praise.
O’Riordan continued to pile on the praise in the aftermath of the Round 8 victory.
“Nick is a super competitor and all he wants to do is compete,” O’Riordan told SwansTV.
“He has that lightning speed and he’d be a nightmare when the opposition sees him coming. He’s an outstanding person before he’s a footballer, it’s a credit to him and it’s testament to the attitude that he never gives up and gives in. That’s all what we want from Nick, he knows that and as long as he brings that he’ll go a long way.”
Blakey complemented his two holding-the-ball tackles with 17 touches and a goal.
Sydney’s Lance Franklin missed a third game in a row due to a hamstring injury, but 10 Swans hit the scoreboard in the star forward’s absence.
O’Riordan kicked his first AFL goal as every one of his 17 teammates on the ground swamped him in scenes sure to be treasured, and the Irishman also finished the night with 17 possessions on return to senior footy.
A crowd of 26,502 fans packed the SCG stands on a chilly night as Sydney clawed its second win of the season, and O’Riordan said the spirited support of the Swans faithful was felt throughout the entire team.
“Thanks for coming. I know times have been tough over the last seven or so weeks, but to have 26,000 here tonight was pretty special,” O’Riordan said.
“We were working hard to get their faith back and hopefully we can continue to build their faith in us as a team. The faith they’ve shown us has been unbelievable and we just wanted to repay them.”
