We look at some of the talking points from the Swans’ Round 9 win against the Dockers at the SCG on Saturday night.
1: Air-tight Swans defence lead brilliantly by young and old
The Swans defence on Saturday night were superb all game, brilliantly lead by 24-year-old Jake Lloyd and 309-game veteran Jarrad McVeigh. The Dockers had plenty of the ball in the opening quarter, yet could only muster three behinds, while the Swans capitalised on their mistakes and booted three goals.
An early goal in the second quarter from a Lloyd turnover gave the Dockers a glimmer of hope, but it was well and truly snuffed out. With the game still in the balance, the Dockers scored two goals to three quarter time, while the Swans romped away with the win.
2: Fremantle déjà vu – one goal half sinks the Dockers
For the second time in a row against the Swans, the Dockers could only kick a single goal in a half of football. Last year, the Swans were almost 100-points up at half-time, but this time around, the Dockers had their opportunities to challenge Sydney.
Two goals at three quarter time emphasized how poor they really were inside 50, before a late burst saw them pass 50 points.
3: Rookie magic best on show
Jake Lloyd picked up the honours on Saturday night in his 101st game for the club. He was superb for the Swans in their thrilling 8-point win against Hawthorn in Round 8 and backed it up with an awesome 41 disposal game. He was everywhere in defence, intercepting the ball and rebounding with ease. He capped off his best on ground display with a sumptuous long-range goal. Fellow rookie defenders Nick Smith, Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe were among the best for the Swans.
4: Buddy the breaker
Breaking hearts, breaking games, breaking records and breaking jaws, Buddy does it all on his return to football. He was slow to get off the mark and work his way into the game, making several uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half before bagging his first goal.
With Hamling off the field receiving treatment for an accidental elbow to the jaw, Franklin exploded to life, ripping the game apart in the third quarter. Whenever the Swans went forward, he was involved. In anything positive the Swans did, he was involved. It was Buddy at his finest, even if he didn’t have the same scoreboard impact he typically does.
5: Wasteful Dockers pay for mistakes
The Dockers dominated possession and field position early in the first quarter, with Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale superb for the visitors. Before George Hewett and Harry Cunningham applied the clamps, they had nearly 10 more inside 50’s, but could only muster three scoring shots, two of them hitting the post. At the other end, the Swans were extremely efficient inside 50, finishing the quarter with three goals to Fremantle’s four points.
From then it was almost all the Swans, kicking 7 goals to one to half-time, before adding another 4 in the third quarter to lead 11.6 to Fremantle’s inaccurate 2.9.
6: Swans finally find goal spread
The only thing more relieving for the Swans winning at home again, was the way they managed to do it, with 11 different goal kickers, with only four multiple kickers. Rookie sensation Ben Ronke wasn’t able to back-up with another seven-goal haul but found himself involved in the Swans attacking plays. Before Franklin exploded to life, Josh Kennedy was the only multiple goal kicker with two in the opening half, along with goals to Ben Ronke, Will Hayward, Jake Lloyd and Isaac Heeney.
Youngster Tom McCartin kicked two goals in the second half and could have had three with a kind bounce, while Lance Franklin dominated the second half and added another two. Swans captain Josh Kennedy was a surprising target in the forward line, kicking his third and setting up McCartin’s second, while Tom Papley booted two of his own.
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