By Vince Rugari
The Swans have sounded a warning to the rest of the AFL after claiming local bragging rights with an emphatic 29-point win on Saturday, leaving the Giants to count a potentially heavy cost through injury and suspension.
In front of a near-record crowd at the SCG, the Swans cracked open the 27th edition of the Sydney derby with a four-goals-to-zero second term and then comfortably swatted aside all attempts at a comeback from the Giants thereafter.
Off-contract forward Will Hayward led the way for Sydney four goals – three of them coming in the third term, as the Giants tried and failed to climb off the canvas – while their midfield was utterly dominant, with Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Rowbottom and Taylor Adams all terrific.
Gulden, who had a game-high 29 disposals, five clearances and kicked one goal, was awarded the Brett Kirk Medal as the best player on the field – but any one of probably five or six players could have made a reasonable claim.
Toby Greene, meanwhile, was held goalless for the first time in a derby since 2016.
“It was a hard tough game – two pretty good teams, playing reasonable footy,” said Swans coach John Longmire.
“You’ve got to be doing everything right for a long time, and we were able to do that, and were able to keep going with that, and that’s easier said than done. The pressure was enormous from both teams … [When] there’s not much in it, you’ve just got to keep persisting.”
Will Hayward celebrates a goal for Sydney.Credit: Getty
This 14.14 (98) to 10.9 (69) victory was a huge statement of ambition by Sydney, since their crosstown rivals were hitherto considered premiership favourites along with Geelong, and most analysts didn’t quite have them on the same rung.
Indeed, the Giants’ own credentials took a hit on multiple fronts: not only was this by far their most disappointing performance of the year, but they may have lost star midfielder Tom Green and forward Callum Brown for multiple weeks.
Green was subbed out early in a rainswept second quarter after his left ankle was trapped under an opponent in a tackle – and his misfortune helped swing the game Sydney’s way.
Toby Greene and the Giants look on after Sydney’s win.Credit: Getty
With the Giants’ prime mover out of the picture, the likes of Gulden, Warner, Heeney and the rest of Sydney’s midfield brigade frolicked in his absence, winning more of the ball (43 clearances to 31) and generating more inside 50 entries (67 to 42). Soon enough, those discrepancies were reflected on the scoreboard.
“They had a real thirst for the contest we didn’t have,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said. “[Our midfield was] comprehensively beaten.”
Minutes after Green succumbed to his injury – the severity of which, Kingsley said, was unclear immediately post-match – the Swans had to activate their substitute after Tom McCartin was left concussed by Brown in an incident that is certain to attract a hefty suspension and sparked a mini-melee.
McCartin and Brown were chasing a loose ball, but the former got to it first – and a split second later, the latter had taken him out with a head-high bump which left him motionless on the ground. He was eventually taken into Sydney’s rooms, where he failed his HIA, ensuring he will sit out Friday night’s trip to face Fremantle due to concussion protocols, while Brown is facing at least a three-week suspension.
A remorseful Brown apologised to McCartin as he came off the ground; the key defender has his own unfortunate history of head knocks, not to mention his brother, Paddy, who was forced into retirement last year due to repeated concussions.
Longmire described the incident as “disappointing” in his post-match press conference, while Kingsley said he hadn’t seen it.
“It’ll unfold as the week goes on,” Kingsley said. “He’s a ball-player. I don’t think he’s ever been suspended … he’s one of the fairest players in the game.”
The attendance of 40,337 was only 13 short of the previous record for a derby at this venue, set when the Giants and Swans faced off in the 2018 elimination final.
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