Serial Grand Final Flops
I hope the Swan’s players watch some Fox Footy on Kayo because you have to see a slide of the Brisbane Lions grinning whilst holding the AFL 2024 Premiership Cup. This image comes on every time you turn on this channel. Not that I begrudge Brisbane their well deserved triumph. Indeed, I really like Lion’s coach Chris Fagan and think he deserves a grand final victory. However, it is the manner of the Sydney Swans defeat that growls in my guts, especially on the back of the 2022 similar debacle. The Swans are rightly considered serial grand final flops.
AFL Watching Weather Affected
Cyclone Alfred is a wet squab and Kayo is not working in response to the inclement conditions in Queensland. The opening round of the AFL 2025 season has been reduced and shares the fate of Alfred – being downgraded. Watching the footy on the box remains a challenge in the northern states. I do celebrate that Fox Footy is finally getting to call and televise all the games this season. It has always truck me as unfair that the viewers prepared to pay to see the footy on screen were penalised in favour of free to air viewers. Channel 7 runs so many commercials you can forget WTF you were watching.
Swans Outplayed By Hawthorn In Opener
Sydney got outplayed by a more ferocious Hawthorn in the season opener at the SCG. The Hawke’s players wanted it more for longer. The Swans were beaten in the air and on the ground around the ball. Half the team did not seem switched on, in my view. Ollie Florent was a prime example of this and we missed his drive and skills off the half back line. What is the problem Ollie? Will Hayward was another largely missing in action until he had a job to do on Sicily in the 3rd quarter. Brody Grundy was beaten for much of the match and is not physically right. The new additions to the Sydney 23 found the going tough and will need time to adjust. The backline were all at sea too often. Melican was solid but needs to play with more confidence, especially in marking the ball and not spoiling when clear of his opponent. Rampe looked old and a metre or two off the required pace. We missed Errol Gulden.
Bloods Should Make Heeney Captain
Isaac Heeney was committed on the night and played well without being quite at last year’s level. I think the Swans should make Isaac Heeney captain. It was a mistake not to replace Mills last year and surprise, surprise Mills is still not playing. Sydney would be better served with Heeney as captain in the Patrick Cripp’s mode. Heeney would grow into the role and is the Swan’s best player. The team needs more on-field leadership if Friday night is an accurate indication. It was Jake Lloyd’s 250th and Opening round the script required a Swan’s victory.
Cox The New Coach
It was new Sydney coach Dean Cox’s debut game and he has a tough act to follow. Losing is not the start he wanted; I am sure. Shifting Tom McCartin to the forward line will be a debated topic among Swan’s fans in light of this performance and the season ahead. Nick Blakey has to hold down a key spot in defence to cover the absence of a marking tall and this may cost much needed attacking run. Why haven’t Sydney played Joel Hambling down back since recruiting him? Aaron Francis has been mediocre in defence at best when given the opportunity. Hawthorn out-marked Sydney and the aerial performance of the Swans was less than required. Cox told the media that the Swans onballers did not provide enough opportunities for the forward line. Sheldrick was patchy at best. Chad Warner was brilliant and damaging when he got the ball.
“Chad Warner did his best to lead the charge with a team-lifting goal that helped spark the Swans’ third-term resurgence. The powerful midfielder finished with 21 disposals and two goals but lacked enough support even with stand-in captain Isaac Heeney (21) battling hard and half-backs Nick Blakey (26, one goal) and Matt Roberts (26) adding dash from defence.”
Rowbottom never stopped trying and tackling hard. Taylor Adams was solid until getting injured. Braeden Campbell provided moments but like many Swan’s players not a four quarter effort. The Swans had momentum winning the third term and wasted scoring opportunities in the first part of the last quarter. After that they were done and beaten.
The serial grand final flops would have wanted a win in Opening round for their supporters. Mentally they were not at their best and I wonder why? A 23 man team is, at times, an unwieldy beast and coaches must tear their hair out in frustration at times. John Longmire was famously intense in the coach’s box barking out instructions over the phone and covering his mouth to avoid lip readers. Cox will be hoping that he can reverse the result next up and get Sydney winning in 2025.
RSH
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