Lance Franklin sinks GWS with brilliant late goal at the SCG
THE Sydney Swans’ main man stepped up when he was needed. But Saturday night’s winning recipe against the GWS Giants was achieved via a different method, writes Neil Cordy.
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THE Swans have taken out Sydney Derby XI with a thrilling 16-point win over the Giants at the SCG.
They have also found a premiership winning formula which doesn’t involve Lance Franklin kicking goals.
Buddy saw off a late surge from GWS with two last-quarter goals but the heavy lifting had already been achieved by a more potent and varied forward set up.
MATCH CENTRE: EVERY STAT AND SUPERCOACH SCORE
RECAP: HOW SUPER SATURDAY PLAYED OUT
The Swans had five multiple goalkickers with Callum Sinclair leading the way with three and Sam Reid, Gary Rohan, Tom Papley and Will Hayward all with two.
The return of Reid saw the Coleman Medallist playing further up the ground and Sinclair and Reid providing the marking targets.
It made the Swans forward line look much more multidimensional and dangerous.
Franklin had been contained by Giants co-captain Phil Davis but still had a significant influence on the match with 22 disposals, 9 contested possessions and 9 inside 50s.
“We need to make sure we have a spread (of goal-kickers) going forward,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“Lance still had nine inside 50s so it’s not always about him hitting the scoreboard. When he is up the ground he provides opportunities to others as well.”
The new look set up will be a major disappointment to those looking for a 100 goal season but it could deliver Franklin’s first premiership in red and white.
At the other end of the ground Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals but was also well held by Dane Rampe.
Rampe also pulled off what will be one of the most remarkable goal-saving tackles of 2018 when he pulled down Giants youngster Tim Taranto just two metres out from goal early in the last quarter.
Taranto should have gone back and taken his deliberate shot after marking but it was a measure of the pressure of Sydney’s defence.
Rampe had plenty of support down back from Callum Mills, who earned his first Brett Kirk Medal for best afield in an impressive 26-disposal game which included eight rebound 50s.
“We turned the ball over and they kicked 10 goals off our turnovers,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
“We kicked seven (off the Swans turnovers). There’s the game.”
In a match characterised by big momentum swings, the highly anticipated midfield battle was a close run thing with contested possession (143-142) just going the Giants way and the visitors winning the clearances by 14.
Stephen Coniglio was again strong for GWS along with Callan Ward. Josh Kennedy, Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery were among the best for the Swans.
The only worry for the Swans was a thigh injury to Sam Reid, picked up in the final moments of the match.
It was Reid’s first game of the year after missing the opening two rounds with hamstring tightness.
The swingman missed the entire 2016 season with soft tissue injuries.
Giants ruckman Rory Lobb looked to be in serious trouble when he landed awkwardly on his left leg, hurting his knee in the second quarter.
He made it back onto the field and resumed playing up forward, leaving Jonathon Patton to carry the ruck.
Matt deBoer was reported for a high bump on Lewis Melican in a third-quarter marking contest.
The utility looks highly unlikely to cop a suspension with no apparent contact to Melican’s head and the Swans defender able to play on with virtually no discomfort.
SYDNEY 3.4 7.4 12.5 16.7 (103) def GWS 2.5 5.10 7.13 12.15 (87)
Goals: Sydney: C Sinclair 3 G Rohan 2 L Franklin 2 S Reid 2 T Papley 2 W Hayward 2 I Heeney J Kennedy L Parker.
GWS: J Cameron 3 D Lloyd 2 M De Boer 2 H Himmelberg J Hopper J Patton R Lobb S Coniglio.
Umpires: Troy Pannell, Ray Chamberlain, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 34,711 at SCG.