Swans keep finals hopes alive with dramatic win over St Kilda
When Tom McCartin came from the ground with concussion, Dean Cox was unable to replace him with a fit Aaron Francis who was subbed just minutes before. He wants the sub rule gone.
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Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox has called for the scrapping of the sub rule after confirming defender Tom McCartin suffered yet another concussion on Sunday.
McCartin was collected high by St Kilda debutant Max Heath in a marking contest during the final term of the Swans’ thrilling five-point at Marvel Stadium.
He came from the ground and took no further part, with Cox later confirming he’d been concussed.
Tom McCartin comes from the field after this contest and tensions bubble.
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“He is (concussed),” Cox said.
“Straight away the symptoms suggested that.
“We entered into protocols and that’s the first thing, you’re just ruled out of the game with symptoms and you’re entered into protocols.
He’s OK now and we’ll just assess him the next couple of days.
“We’ll support him but he was walking around the changerooms, which was really good.”
The Swans had already activated their substitute, meaning the Swans were a man down for most of the final term.
Under the rules they weren’t allowed to bring the subbed out Aaron Francis back into the game despite the McCartin concussion.
Cox said it made more sense to him for there to not be a sub rule at all.
“That’s a decision we had (already) made (the tactical sub),” Cox said.
“My ideal thing with the sub rule is if you have five players there, why can’t they play?
“Do you need to have a sub? My thing is just play all five.”
Heath is set to come under scrutiny by the MRO for the high hit, although Cox was not yet ready to cast judgement when quizzed post-game.
“I haven’t really seen it, my attention straight away turned to Tom and then what we were going to do as we’d already made a sub,” he said.
The seven-point win kept the Swans’ slim finals hopes alive, with matches to come against North Melbourne (SCG), GWS Giants (ENGIE Stadium) and Essendon (SCG) in their next block.
“We’ll keep doing what we have to, (and) even if we don’t have one (a pulse) we want to make sure we finish this year off as well as we can,” Cox said.
“My expectation for the playing group is to make sure we present each week and do our best and upmost to win games of football. “
SWANS’ SEASON STILL ALIVE AFTER WIN OVER SAINTS
The Sydney Swans’ finals hopes are still alive – just – but defender Tom McCartin was unable to finish the game after a high hit from a debutant at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
In a pulsating contest, the Swans overcame a 13-point deficit at the last change to just overcome a spirited St Kilda, 14.8 (92) to 13.9 (87).
Although, it came at a cost with McCartin – who has a history of concussion – taken high by debutant Max Heath in the final term.
He took no further part as a “precaution,” with Heath set to come under the scrutiny of the MRO.
The Saints also lost forward Dan Butler to a sickening dislocated elbow on a day of carnage under the roof.
Swan Jake Lloyd kicked a career-high three goals, while Will Hayward kicked two of his three goals in the final term to prove a match-winner.
Saint Marcus Windhager had a day out with a game-high 36 disposals.
It was a high scoring opening to the contest before the Swans were able to get on top with Lloyd getting an early sniff.
He had two goals in the first term as part of four majors in a row for the visitors as they threatened to take control.
Two late first term goals to Saints skipper Jack Steele and Hugh Boxshall reduced the margin to eight points at the first change after a nine-goal quarter.
After such a frenetic opening, the second term was a stalemate until Cooper Sharman kicked his first goal at the 15-minute mark after being on the end of some Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera brilliance.
That sparked the Saints, with Max Hall kicking two goals in a minute to help the home side to a 10-point lead at the main break after keeping the Swans goalless for the term.
The Saints got three goals up in the third term and settled for a 13-point lead at the final change.
With Hayward hitting the scoreboard in the final term, the Swans were able to prevail after a topsy turvy final stanza.
THE MOOSE IS LOOSE
The man known at Moorabbin lovingly as the ‘Moose’ was finally unleashed on Sunday.
204cm Saint Max Heath earned his AFL debut four years after his name was read out at pick No. 7 in the 2021 mid-season draft.
The tallest man on St Kilda’s list, who was the Saints’ eighth debutant of the season, joined the first kick, first goal club after a major from a free kick in the third term.
Although, he now faces a nervous wait after his high hit on McCartin.
ROOF SCARE BEFORE THE BOUNCE
Many fans have long called for the roof to be open for day games at Marvel Stadium.
They almost got their wish on Sunday with a mechanical issue leading to a few nervous moments for venue staff.
One side of the roof was stopping short of closing and it remained open up until 90 minutes before the bounce.
It was eventually fixed and the roof was able to shut.
Had it not been sorted it would have been opened, as the roof has to be either fully shut or fully open for games at Marvel.
Originally published as Swans keep finals hopes alive with dramatic win over St Kilda
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