AFL pre-season: Key takeaways from Sydney v Brisbane Lions

Sydney’s already weakened midfield may have taken another blow, while the Lions reminded everyone how lethal they still are. CALLUM DICK has all the intel from the pre-season clash.

Sydney's Taylor Adams during the AFL pre season match between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions at Blacktown International Sports Park, Sydney on February 29, 2024. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - Phil Hillyard **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )

Sydney’s hamstrung midfield looks to have copped another injury blow with star recruit Taylor Adams’ club debut brought to an early halt in Thursday night’s Community Series clash against Brisbane.

Adams went down clutching at his left knee after being tackled mid-way through the third term and immediately walked off the ground.

He was later ruled out for the rest of the match with a reported medial ligament strain – the Swans erring on the side of caution with their star midfield recruit, who to that point had impressed in his first minutes in the red and white.

Exactly what the Swans didn't want to see, with recruit Taylor Adams appearing to hurt his leg and coming off the ground.

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If Adams’ knee injury proves to be significant it could rule him out for up to two months in what would be a massive blow to the Swans’ early season hopes, given both Callum Mills (shoulder) and Luke Parker (arm) are already missing from the starting midfield rotation.

A Blacktown blackout forced a further delay to the already rescheduled pre-season clash as the two finals hopefuls fought it out in sweltering conditions on Thursday night.

Brisbane welcomed back skipper and reigning Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale and fellow midfielder Jarrod Berry and after an even first half, kicked away to record a 25-point victory on a horrendously humid night in Western Sydney.

Taylor Adams came off late with a knee concern. Photo by Phil Hillyard

ON-BALL OUTLOOK

Adams, Brodie Grundy and James Jordon all look likely upgrades to a Swans side that will want to push into the upper reaches of the eight this season after barely scraping into finals calculations in 2023.

Adams starred early with three first quarter clearances and combined well with former Pies teammate Grundy before leaving the field late in the third quarter with the knee injury.

Without Mills, Parker and Chad Warner the Swans showed a different midfield mix against the Lions. Isaac Heeney spent more time through the middle but still managed to float forward and hit the scoreboard.

Sydney’s engine room was far from disgraced against one of the best midfields in the business and coach John Longmire will take great confidence from the performance.

James Jordon’s 31 disposals would have been a career-high in a regular season outing and has surely locked down a place on the opposite wing to star Errol Gulden.

Grundy took the bulk of the ruck work but Peter Ladhams found plenty of the footy with 18 touches, keeping the former Collingwood and Melbourne star honest in the race for top ruck duties.

Lions star Hugh McCluggage looked in mid-season form with a match-high 31 touches and a goal while Josh Dunkley and Neale both found plenty of the footy.

Berry played just over half of the match and looked ready for Opening Round in his first pre-season minutes since off-season shoulder surgery, while Cam Rayner worked his way into the contest and found more of the footy in the second half.

Even with Neale and Berry back in the midfield mix, Fagan started Rayner in the middle. He finished with 16 disposals and a goal from 78 per cent game time in another sign he could be destined for more time in the guts this season.

Hugh McCluggage saw plenty of the pill. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

BUDDY BIG HOLE TO FILL

It was slim pickings for the Swans’ trio of key forwards on Thursday night as the Buddy-less era began in Sydney.

If Longmire was looking for one of Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey or Hayden McLean to put their hand up as the primary target he left Blacktown with more questions than answers.

Small forward Sam Wicks was electric and could have had three goals to go with his 15 disposals, while Heeney also looked dangerous when in space inside 50.

But the Lions’ steely defence was otherwise well on top of the Swans’ tall targets, with McDonald booting a goal from four touches, Amartey 1.1 and eight disposals and McLean unsighted on-goal.

Sam Reid did not feature on Thursday night and is another in the mix for the key forward rotation.

Brisbane’s defence made it tough on Sydney. Photo by Phil Hillyard

BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR ZORKO

Lions veteran Dayne Zorko started his career as an elusive small forward and could reprise that role this season if his two-goal, 20-disposal performance on Thursday night is any indication.

The man once dubbed ‘The Magician’ for his deft work around goal was among the Lions’ best in the 25-point victory.

Deployed as a true utility by Chris Fagan last season, Zorko showed he still has plenty to give in his age-35 season.

The Brisbane forward line was humming on Thursday night even without Joe Daniher hitting the scoreboard.

Lincoln McCarthy led all-comers with three goals while Eric Hipwood showed strong lead-up play with two goals and seven marks.

Brisbane kicked 12 goals on a slippery night without their two main targets, Daniher and Charlie Cameron, adding to the tally.

SCOREBOARD

BRISBANE: 2.3 6.5 11.8 12.9 (81)

SYDNEY: 2.2 4.6 6.7 8.8 (56)

Goals:Brisbane: McCarthy 3, Zorko 2, Hipwood 2, Ah Chee, Wilmot, Coleman, Rayner, McCluggage Sydney: Gulden, Wicks, Heeney, Amartey, Warner, McDonald, Fox, McInerney

Originally published as AFL pre-season: Key takeaways from Sydney v Brisbane Lions