AFL 2024: All the SuperCoach takeaways and analysis from Friday, round 22

Warner and Heeney star in SuperCoach and at the SCG to overcome a 27-point deficit in the final term to beat Collingwood. Check out the key SuperCoach takeaways from Friday night football.

 Collingwood’s final chances are hanging by a thread after Sydney came back from 27 points down in the final term to keep their season alive and almost end the Pies season.

Sydney kicked the last five goals of the game to stun the Pies by three points and reverse a horror week for the ladder leaders, which saw the team lose by 112 points last week.

The difference in the end was the midfield trio of Chad Warner, Errol Gulden and Isaac Heeney.

Heeney and Warner had 14 disposals each in the last quarter to power the Swans home.

Collingwood could officially be eliminated from the finals race by the end of the weekend if Carlton, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle all win.

It would leave the Pies two games and percentage outside of the eight, which would make it impossible to get back.

Follow live updates and SuperCoach analysis all night below.

The Three Takeaways

WARNER AND HEENEY ARE BACK

Chad Warner celebrates a goal against Collingwood. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The last quarter was something to behold from Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney and SuperCoaches who stuck by both of them were rewarded handsomely. Warner led all players with 164 points with Heeney getting 144. Both had 14 disposals in the final term and both kicked a goal. If the Swans are back and these two have found form again then they are locks for the rest of the finals series in SuperCoach. But one quarter doesn’t override the previous few weeks so making a decision one way or another could be the difference between winning and losing.

CAMERON IS A LOCK

Darcy Cameron was one of the best for Collingwood. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

If you don’t have Darcy Cameron as a ruckman, you might need to with two rounds to go. Before tonight he averaged 117 the past three weeks and scored 165 points against the Swans. His last two games are against Brisbane and Melbourne. He scored 97 in the corresponding game last year against the Lions, towards the end of the season and Melbourne may be without Max Gawn if the team decides to rest him with his injuries. If that happens he could dominate in the final round. He could be a trade which could be the difference over the next two weeks.

WHAT TO DO WITH DAICOS?

Do you trade Nick Daicos or keep him in the hope he delivers in the final two rounds. He scored 66, his third lowest score of the year. His past five rounds he has averaged 107, which is inflated by 147 points in round 20. In the past seven weeks, in Collingwood’s slump, he has scored under 100 points three times and on one other match he scored 101 points. 77 per cent of coaches have him in the team. Do you take a chance to be against him, or stick with him in the hope, like he has done before, he turns it around? It will be a major decision this week.

10.40pm: Stats from the game

Goals: Swans – W. Hayward 3, L. Parker 2, C. Warner 2, I. Heeney, E. Gulden, O. Florent, J. Jordan, L. McDonald, H. McLean; Pies – B. Hill 2, J. Crisp, J. Elliott, P. Lipinski, N. Long, D. McStay, J. Bytel, D.Cameron, M. Cox, B. McCreery, I. Quaynor

Disposals: Swans – C. Warner 33, I. Heeney 32, M. Roberts 25, N. Blakey 24, J. Rowbottom 21; Pies – J. Daicos 26, N. Daicos 25, J. Crisp 23, S. Sidebottom 21, D. Cameron 19.

10.35pm: Were the Pies robbed?

Should Dan McStay have had a 50 metre penalty late in the game. The Sydney defender kept creeping forward after the mark from McStay was taken but the umpire deemed it to be forward momentum from the contest. But we’ve seen over the year these penalties can be given and not given. It will be talked about this week.

10.27pm: Swans win

Sydney has come back from 27 points down in the middle of the final term to stun the Magpies and win by three points. That loss probably ends the finals chances for the Pies with two rounds to go. What a game of football. The big three – Warner, Heeney and Gulden – lifted when needed and helped the Swans dominate clearances and get their attack going. It might be the win that saves their season and marches them to a premiership. Score: Swans 13.11. (89) to Pies 12.14. (86).

10.25pm: Sub made

Joe Richards is finally on for the Pies with a couple of minutes left.

10.22pm: Pies miss chance

Jamie Elliott has a shot from the boundary line but it goes to the left. His foot was out of play but the behind has counted to the score. Sydney leads by three points with three minutes left.

10.20pm: Swans lead

Sydney have come back from 27 points down and now lead. Gulden has had a poor night by his standard but he kicks a brilliant goal at the right time. He snaps from a clearance win by the Swans. Sydney leads by four points with just over four minutes to go.

10.17pm: Less than kick in it

Isaac Heeney marks the ball 10 metres out and kicks a goal to reduce the margin to two points. Chad Warner won a clearance inside 50 and kicked to Heeney to set up the goal. All the momentum is with the Swans right now.

10.15pm: Sub update

Collingwood has yet to make the sub with Joe Richards still on the bench. Sydney is attacking the Pies but haven’t reduced the margin. Pies lead by eight points.

10.10pm Swans right back in the game

The crowd is lifting and the Swans feel it and have come alive. Chad Warner snaps from 45 metres out and the ball bounces the right way to go through for a goal. The margin is seven points with nine minutes remaining. Swans coach John Longmire has switched the magnets and it’s working.

10.09pm: Sub made as Swans bounce back

Sydney is coming back just as the side makes the sub. Will Hayward kicks the first goal to reduce the margin to 19 points. Logan McDonald then adds his first for the night, after being moved to the forward line, and the margin is 13. Meanwhile, Robbie Fox is off with Caiden Cleary on for the Swans.

10.04pm: Time running out

Sydney have had chances to attack but really haven’t had any clear chances to kick goals. You feel one more goal might be enough for Collingwood.

9.54pm: Game over?

Ned Long makes a brilliant tackle inside 50 and gets a free kick and a shot on goal. He kicks truly and Collingwood leads by 27 points. Going to be tough for the Swans to win from here.

9.45pm: Collingwood on top at final break

Bobby Hill just does special things 😍

📺 Watch #AFLSwansPies on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/OyUPVaNHdS
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/hniOZMyL1F
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/KUvGaFiQaNpic.twitter.com/yiARPR2YtS

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 9, 2024

Bobby Hill kicks his second goal of the term and Collingwood leads by 21 points at the final break. It looks like the premiership chances of the Swans are about to have another hit taken to it. Score: Pies 11.12. (78) to Swans 8.9. (57).

9.42pm: Pies unable to kick away

Collingwood could be leading by more than four goals but have missed three set shots in the last few minutes. The Swans are holding on here and Collingwood is keeping them in the hunt.

9.38pm: Pies settle before final break

Bobby Hill outmuscles his opponent and marks 20 metres out. He kicks his first for the night and Collingwood leads by 14.

9.28pm: Swans respond immediately

Sydney kicks the next two goals and reduce the margin to eight points. Oliver Florent kicks his first of the night, from 50m out, after a mistake from the Pies from a kick-in.

9.22pm: Biggest lead of night

And now it’s three goals in four minutes. Darcy Cameron kicks his first of the night, from a great set-shot, and the Pies lead by 22 points. Danger signs now for the Swans.

9.20pm: Pies blow game wide open

Lipinski bends it over his shoulder to snap an absolute ripper goal 💫

📺 Watch #AFLSwansPies on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/OyUPVaNHdS
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/hniOZMyL1F
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/KUvGaFiQaNpic.twitter.com/Q3Bch9ouSM

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 9, 2024

Collingwood his lifted a gear early in the third term. The Pies have kicked two goals in the first three minutes to open up a 16-point lead. Suddenly the next 10 minutes could be make or break for the Swans.

9.10pm: SuperCoach half time wrap

Sydney defender Matt Roberts is number one in disposals and in SuperCoach with 66 points. He is up the top with his teammate Chad Warner not far behind. It’s his best game in weeks and he has 63 points. Steele Sidebottom leads Collingwood with 64 points and is having a game and a half shutting down Errol Gulden. He is joined by Darcy Cameron who has 61. It’s been a quiet half for Nick Daicos (35), Errol Gulden (37) and Isaac Heeney (32), which would have SuperCoaches nervous if they have them and need them to score well to win finals.

9.00pm: Stats at half time

Goals: Swans – L. Parker 2, W. Hayward, J. Jordan, H. McLean, C. Warner; Pies – J. Crisp, J. Bytel, M. Cox, J. Elliott, B. McCreery, I. Quaynor

Stats: Swans – M. Roberts 15, J. Rowbottom 15, C. Warner 13, I. Heeney 12, N. Blakey 11; Pies – N. Daicos 15, S. Sidebottom 15, S. Pendlebury 12, J. Daicos 11, I. Quaynor 11

8.55pm: Half time

A dour last part of the quarter, with no goals, sees Collingwood lead by three points at the main break. Collingwood only kicked one goal for the term but it was enough to lead at the main break. Score: Pies 6.8. (44) to Swans 6.5. (41).

8.40pm: Pies take lead back

Just like the first term, Sydney started well but Collingwood work their way back into the game. A goal to Beau McCreery gives Collingwood the lead back.

8.30pm: Swans hot start to term

The Swans have gone BANG with three in a row to start the second term 💥

📺 Watch #AFLSwansPies on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/OyUPVaNHdS
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/hniOZMyL1F
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/KUvGaFiQaNpic.twitter.com/Zi0wBSBY8M

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 9, 2024

Sydney kicks the opening three goals of the term and get the lead back. Midfielders Luke Parker and Chad Warner kick goals and the Swans have responded well in the term.

8.20pm: SuperCoach scores and update

Collingwood’s tall ruckman have had a good quarter with Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox number one and two in SuperCoach. Cameron leads everyone with 47 and Cox has had 35. Jake Lloyd is the best for the Swans with 35. It’s been a tough first quarter for SuperCoach stars. Nick Daicos and Errol Gulden have just 13 with Isaac Heeney on 12.

8.15pm: Pies lead at first change

Sydney started well for the first time in a long time but then Collingwood got into the contest. The team kicked five of the last six goals in the first term to lead by 13 points at the first change. Score: Pies 5.4. (34) to Swans 3.3. (21).

8.11pm: Pies take control before quarter time

Two quick goals to Collingwood gives them an 11-point lead closing in on quarter time. Mason Cox kicks the first before Isaac Quaynor adds another. The big worry for Sydney is how easy Collingwood is scoring. The Pies have scored seven times out of the 10 times the team has gone inside 50.

8.02pm: Pies back in the contest

Collingwood has started to get back into the contest with clearances and disposals. The team has the last five clearances and have scored whenever they get the ball inside 50. A goal by Jack Bytel gives Collingwood the lead by five points.

7.54pm: Collingwood level scores

Jack Crisp scores Collingwood’s first goal of the game and then the Pies get another a few seconds later. Jamie Elliott is bumped by Nick Blakey on the goalsquare and the umpire gives the Pies forward a free kick in front of goal. He kicks the goal and scores are level.

7.49pm: Sydney kicks away

James Jordan adds a second goal for Sydney and the Swans lead by 12 points. Nick Daicos has yet to have a disposal and the inside 50s at 6-1 in favour of the Swans.

7.43pm: Game underway

Sydney is certainly here to play tonight. The side gets the first couple of clearances and kick the first goal of the game. It took more than a quarter last week to kick a goal, this time it took just over a minute. Will Hayward kicks the first goal.

7.30pm: Form guide

Sydney might be top but have lost five of their six games including last week’s huge loss to Port Adelaide. Collingwood, despite battling for a top-eight spot, have won their past two after losing four in a row before that. Both have been in a rough trot of form in their past six matches. In clashes between the two, Sydney has the advantage. The Swans have won four of their past five, including the round two clash this year by 33 points. At the SCG, Collingwood’s record isn’t great. The side have lost six of their past eight at the ground and only won 10 out of 28 in their history. If the Swans are to bounce back, this is the perfect chance to do it. For Collingwood, the Pies just need to keep winning to keep their finals hopes alive.

7.10pm: Subs finalised for clash

Collingwood has pulled a little bit of a surprise with its sub with Joe Richards named. He was selected as the replacement for the injured Jordan De Goey but will have to wait to play. Caiden Cleary has been named the sub for Sydney. He has been named as the sub in all three games of his career.

7.05pm: Welcome to the live blog

It promises to be a big night with the season on the line in plenty of ways for both Sydney and Collingwood. Subs and latest info will be in the next post.

PREVIEW

Collingwood’s finals hopes hang by a thread entering a round 22 Friday night blockbuster against Sydney.

And the Swans suddenly need a win to get their season back on track. After being clear on top of the ladder for much of the season Sydney is now just two points ahead of the Brisbane Lions, and four points up on Port Adelaide, GWS and Geelong.

SuperCoach stars from both sides will have a big say in the result including Nick Daicos, Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and former Magpie Brodie Grundy.

It’s week two of finals in SuperCoach head-to-head leagues – and a mini-final for the Swans and Pies.

Originally published as AFL 2024: All the SuperCoach takeaways and analysis from Friday, round 22