The Sydney Swans are nonetheless within the hunt for the finals after hanging on for a 11.12 (78) to 11.10 (76) win over the Western Bulldogs.
The Dogs entered the sport needing a win which might have helped their prime 4 possibilities and would have pushed them to fifth on the ladder however the loss has introduced them again to the pack and probably out of the highest eight by the top of the spherical.
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Just six factors separate Essendon in fifth right down to the Tigers in thirteenth, though there are nonetheless eight extra video games for the weekend.
Sydney gamers mobbed John Longmire on the boundary line after play in recognition of his three hundredth recreation as an AFL coach, however the greatest reward to the coach was the bounce from fifteenth to eleventh on the AFL ladder, with desires of a miracle finals berth nonetheless alive.
However, after a season the place the Swans shocked many by ending third after which making the grand ultimate, the Swans are vulnerable to being an also-ran in 2023.
With six matches left within the season, the Swans are on the flawed finish of the logjam.
At 7-9-1 after 17 matches, the Swans have had removed from the season they’d have appreciated after a grand ultimate run in 2022 and two-time premiership winner David King gave the Sydney-siders a actuality examine earlier than the match.
Former two-time All-Australia Leigh Montagna stated the Swans had “played some really good football” heading into the match however simply hadn’t been capable of maintain their consistency all through the sport.
But Kangaroos legend David King was not so form.
“Let’s be honest, this midfield has failed like no other Swans midfield has in a decade,” King stated.
“They aren’t tough enough, they aren’t honest enough, they aren’t consistent enough.”
They have been feedback that made his co-host uncomfortable however King wasn’t finished.
“They’ve failed in big games and they win in a different way, they win in ball movement, not necessarily contest,” King stated.
“It hurt them in the big game last year in the grand final — they got mauled for 20 minutes and the game was over. Every big occasion they’ve had this season they’ve failed.”
Hawks legend Jason Dunstall stated King was “a brave man to question the honesty of a group of Sydney players.”
King continued: “The facts are there, you can’t argue the facts. If you look at the numbers without the West Coast Eagles game where they kicked 31 goals, they’re just an ordinary football team.”
Dunstall: “You can be ordinary and still honest.”
King: “Well I’d like to see it. That’s the truth, that’s the reality. That’s what John (coach Longmire) would be saying behind closed doors. He doesn’t have to say it to us. You just have to look at the ladder to see how far they’ve fallen.”
Swans ace Tom Papley kicked 4 targets together with two within the ultimate quarter because the hosts roared house in a ultimate time period the place the lead modified 5 occasions.
Similarly, Buddy Franklin had the Swans followers on their toes, including one other second to his countless highlights reel on Thursday evening.
On the stroke of halftime Franklin took a one-handed mark as straightforward as if he have been catching a tennis ball thrown from a number of yards, yet one more instance of his unbelievable talent for an enormous man.
Franklin then piloted by means of the objective after the halftime siren had sounded to provide Sydney their first lead of the match.
While it’s apparent Franklin remains to be very able to the massive second, he did miss a few key pictures on objective within the ultimate quarter.
However, it didn’t price the Swans too dearly because the facet held on for the vital win.
Sydney’s uplifting win in entrance of 26,221 followers got here regardless of the dominance of Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who completed with 31 disposals and two targets.
Aaron Naughton additionally kicked three for the Bulldogs however they let a dominant first quarter go to waste.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan had put the Bulldogs in entrance with 5 minutes left, however that lead solely lasted a minute as Papley capitalised on a Swans full-field surge.
With Ben Horne, NCA Newswire
Source: www.news.com.au
