Why secret pressure weapon Sam Wicks could flip Sydney Swans’ form funk post-bye
The Swans struggled in the lead-up to the bye in areas that are usually their strengths. One man on the sidelines could be the key to finding it again, writes LACHLAN McKIRDY.
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The Swans might be considered one of the best teams in the AFL this season, but no one at the club is underestimating the task ahead of them this Sunday against the Suns.
Gold Coast has proven across the opening five rounds of the season that they’re a force to be reckoned with under Damien Hardwick. They’ve won three of their first five matches with many tipping them to finish in the top eight for the first time in their history.
Hardwick has transformed the team into an opponent to be feared.
The young team is relentless around the ball and the numbers back up the success its had.
The Suns are number one for intercept possessions and ground ball gets. They’re also the best team in the league for restricting opposition scores inside 50.
“You look at their talent, but also their work rate,” John Longmire said. “Their pressure on the weekend was 191 which is through the roof … they’re a talented team but they work really hard.
“It means you need to be playing well. You’ve got to be prepared to step into those contests and work hard on every facet of your game.
“They’ve been strong defensively, their forward-half turnover game has also been really strong.
“We have played some good games this year as well. It’s about making sure we get the balance between what they do and what we do.”
Good games is an understatement from Longmire with the Swans setting the competition alight across their opening three matches. Wins against Melbourne, Collingwood and Essendon ensured a platform to build a finals charge and sent a message to the rest of the AFL.
However, the bye came at a good time for Sydney to regroup following the earliest start to a season in history. A shock loss to Richmond in round three was followed by a narrow win against a West Coast side that had only won two of their past 25 matches.
In both those games, the Swans showed glimpses of their best, particularly in the second half against the Eagles. They also came up against two teams with a point to prove. However, their own pressure numbers highlighted the small margins for error in the AFL.
In the opening three weeks, they were in the top four teams in the competition for both forward-half intercepts and points from forward-half intercepts. They were brought back to earth against the Tigers with their intercepts nearly halved and their scoreboard return dropping by 20 points.
There’s also a clear discrepancy in some of their defensive work with newly re-signed James Rowbottom carrying the load. The midfielder has made 47 tackles this season, the next best Swan is Isaac Heeney on 25. It was also evident against the Tigers when Rowbottom made a game-high 13 tackles, eight more than any of his teammates.
That match coincided with Sam Wicks’ omission from the team. Wicks was the number one Swan for tackles inside forward 50 in 2023, averaging 2.1 per game. Isaac Heeney was the next closest with 1.5.
Wicks impressed with his ability to impact the game in ways other than the scoreboard, and it’s why many were surprised to see the Academy product start the first two games of 2024 as the sub.
Against Essendon, the one match he started this season, he laid two tackles inside 50 and was in the top three for the Swans for forward-half pressure points and acts. It’s that ferocity that could help Longmire’s side create opportunities against a Gold Coast team that will be equally as tenacious.
Wicks has been welcomed back into the fold at the Swans with open arms and continues to train the house down following his week away from football, suggesting that any concerns about disharmony appear to be settled as he looks to make a return.
There will be a focus for the Swans on matching the Suns’ young midfield. The trio of Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Sam Flanders have had a superb start to 2024 and will prove a tough test for a Sydney side still missing plenty of experience through the middle.
But the Swans need to go back to their roots. They were the best pressure team in the competition in 2023 and they’re a completely different side when they turn that dial up to 10 and create points from turnover.
Bringing Wicks back into their 23 could be the key to putting a disappointing pre-bye fortnight behind them and ensuring Gold Coast can’t play the game on their terms.
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