Accuracy Costs Swans In Epic Duel With Dogs
It was a great effort, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, by Sydney against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG on Friday night. Accuracy costs Swans in epic duel with Dogs. The lack of it to be more precise cost the Sydney Swans the match. When a key forward cannot kick straight from right in front of goals, like Hayden McLean, to give your side a chance in the final minutes it is a crushing blow. He was not alone, however, as once again Sydney players blew easy opportunities for goals again and again throughout the game.
Sydney Swans Missing Goals On The SCG
Players and teams do not repeatedly miss shots at goal for no reason. These key misses speak of a team down on confidence and lacking belief in themselves. Goal kicking on the big stage in front of the crowd is a test and Sydney failed that test. The coaching transition from Longmire to Cox amid a slew of serious injuries to important players has not gone that well. Too many Sydney players were not up to the stern examination put on them by the Bulldogs. The Swans have not beaten a contender this year. It was, however, a heroic effort by Brody Grundy, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, and a few others on the night.
“Dean Cox’s Swans never said die amid the high-scoring match to test the Dogs right until the very end, but the visitors stuck it out to win 16.9 (105) to Sydney’s 14.12 (96).”
SCG Surface Disgraceful Amid Inaccuracy By Swans
The SCG was once again a disgrace and its surface a danger to AFL players. Players were slipping over on the loose turf like nine pins struck by a bowling ball. The Swans should sue the SCG Trust for failing to present a ground safe to play AFL football on in 2025. Fox Footy commentators could not refrain from condemning the playing surface throughout the broadcast of the match. It was hard enough for both teams in this trying contest without the added hazard of not being able to keep your feet at one end of the SCG. Player injuries are probably already occurring as bodies slid upon the shifting surface at high speeds.
“In the second quarter, fellow Lions legend Jonathan Brown couldn’t help but also voice his displeasure with the playing surface.
“Are you allowed to play on this surface? This is as bad as I’ve seen in years,” he said.
“I remember playing early on the Colonial Stadium surface — and that was a sandpit — but this is shocking.” “
- (Fox Footy)
Daniel Hoyne Emphasises The Importance Of Accuracy
One would think that players on their home ground would know how to kick goals on it. Familiarity and all that. The Bulldog’s players were far more accurate from set shots than the Swans. This conveys their levels of confidence in stark comparison to the misfiring Sydney Swans. Tom Papley kicked a goal from a set shot, one of the very few by the Swans to be successful in this regard. Papley was huge all night in his intensity. James Rowbottom missed a shot from goal from right in front of the sticks when it really mattered, as did Harry Cunningham. Isaac Heeney kicked 5 goals and was at times a lone crusader on the scoreboard. Brody Grundy was massive throughout the match leading the Sydney fightback repeatedly.
Carrying Poor Form Passengers On The Swan’s Bus
Callum Mills was really disappointing and did not look fit enough on the night. Errol Gulden tried hard all night and his passing was not quite at his best level but better than most. These players have missed a lot of football. Ollie Florent as the sub was fumbling the ball in the final quarter and not up to it, unfortunately. Chances in the last quarter went begging for Sydney via these players not being capable of performing under pressure. The Sydney Swans never stopped trying to win this match but had too many underperforming players compared to the rock hard Western Bulldogs side on the night. Accuracy costs Swans in epic duel with Dogs.
“The SCG is a disgrace in terms of the playing surface and dangerous for AFL players plying their trade on it. Sydney Swans home ground not up to AFL standard. Indeed, it mirrors the disappointing season the Swans are currently having in 2025. A concert was held on the playing surface some time ago and the ground has never recovered from the butchery engendered then upon it. Last night, once again, AFL players from both teams could not keep their feet and it is only a matter of time before a serious injury will entail. Perhaps, these have already occurred.”
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer and America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump.
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