The Sydney Swans vanquished their Grand Final ghosts with a commanding show of their season opener towards the Gold Coast Suns.
After making a blistering begin to the competition the Swans by no means took their foot off the gasoline as they ran away to document the 16.14 (1110) to 9.7 (61) victory.
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Superstar Lance Franklin acquired the evening began with the opening two targets of the competition, nevertheless it was within the fourth quarter when he was thrust into the highlight.
With the ball onerous up towards the boundary line, the ball was in dispute with Suns defender Sam Collins standing over the ball.
Franklin got here storming in to use stress however clipped Collins on his manner by means of as he braced for contact.
The star ahead’s left shoulder landed flush on the chin of Collins who hit the deck and remained down because the physician got here to examine him out.
He was then taken from the bottom earlier than present process a HIA take a look at. Collins was in the end subbed out of the sport, nevertheless Fox Footy reported he had handed his HIA.
“He does brace for it, takes his eyes off the footy now it’s only for a milisecond but he is in pursuit of the ball,” Dermott Brereton stated on Fox Footy.
Former AFL participant Nick Dal Santo argued the movement from Franklin might see him land in deep trouble with the AFL whereas fellow commentator Kelli Underwood summed it up in three phrases: “He’s in strife”.
The Suns capitalised within the remaining quarter after the Swans had successfully put the cue within the rack after holding an eight-goal benefit at three-quarter time.
Franklin joins Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett because the second participant to face a nervous wait with the AFL match evaluate officer.
A blockbuster class motion introduced towards the league by 60 former gamers resulting from concussion suffered all through their careers could lead on the MRO to ship onerous line stances on the hits.
Pickett was immediately positioned on report throughout Melbourne’s contest towards the Western Bulldogs after leaving his ft to bump Bailey Smith in a shot that flattened him.
Working in Pickett’s favour is the actual fact Smith acquired proper again to his ft and continued performed, one thing that would work towards Franklin.
Chad Warner led the best way for the Swans on the evening, carrying on from his stellar 2022 season with 30 disposals and a monstrous 726 metres gained.
In entrance of objective it was Franklin, Tom Papley, Logan McDonald and Harry Cunningham doing the harm with two targets every to their identify.
The Swans are broadly tipped to be among the many Grand Final contenders once more this season and acquired their season off to the proper begin.
For the Suns it was a dismal outing in entrance of their residence followers in what might effectively be one other lengthy season.
Midfielders Touk Miller and Matt Rowell toiled away with 57 mixed disposals as ruckman Jarrod Witts tore the Swans aside with 25 touches and 51 hit-outs.
Unfortunately they only didn’t have the firepower to go along with the Swans in what turned out to be a very one-sided affair.
Source: www.news.com.au
