AFL Gather Round Sydney v West Coast: All the news, analysis and colour from Mount Barker

At half-time in footy’s return to the Adelaide Hills, the upset of the season was on the cards as Harley Reid made his mark. Then Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney took over.

It was the “Hills Heist” that never was as a valiant West Coast outfit would have believed they were on for the upset of the season at halftime.

In June last year, the Eagles gave up 205 points in an embarrassing defeat to the Swans, but 10 months later, Adam Simpson’s side found itself with a five-point halftime advantage.

The Eagles’ second-term dominance was inspired off the back of some Harley Reid brilliance as the 18-year-old, alongside Elliot Yeo, put the team on his back against premiership contenders Sydney.

Reid and Yeo carried the Eagles to their first win of any quarter this season, but that second quarter triumph would remain their only win for the day.

In the end, the class of the Swans proved too much for the Eagles as Errol Gulden (27 disposals) and Isaac Heeney (26 disposals) ran rampant through the midfield, with new Swan Taylor Adams slotting straight in.

The Swans, after a shock loss to Richmond in round three, look ahead to a much-needed week off with four points to their name.

There were injury concerns for the Eagles as Luke Edwards was subbed off in the second term for local product Loch Rawlinson, while Ryan Maric was sent to hospital after three-quarter time with a rib injury.

Isaac Heeney was the star at Mount Barker on Saturday. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images

SEAMLESS SWANS

With Isaac Heeney enjoying a career-best season in the midfield, questions were raised about how it would look once Taylor Adams made his Swans debut.

A cruel pre-season injury forced the Swans to wait until round four, but Adams and Heeney coexisted beautifully together.

The 207-game veteran finished with 17 disposals and a goal as he lined up for his third AFL club.

HARLEY HYPE IS REAL

Adam Simpson flirted with the idea of moving Harley Reid to half-back during the week, but it was up forward where the boy from Bendigo did damage on Saturday.

Reid’s first career goal came in the opening term – a high-quality snap on the left – as the 18-year-old caused problems both up forward and in the middle.

He finished with 18 touches, four clearances and a goal for the Eagles.

Young Eagle Harley Reid dishes it out to Errol Gulden. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

CAPTAIN TOM

Injuries to captain Callum Mills and vice-captains Dane Rampe and Luke Parker meant Swans coach John Longmire travelled to Mount Barker without a skipper.

Longmire landed on Tom Papley to fill the leadership void who, by his 2024 standards, had a quiet outing but departs South Australia with a 1-0 record to his captaincy tenure.

HOMETOWN HAYWARD

Known for his beautiful set shot kicking, South Australian product Will Hayward flourished in tricky conditions back home, finishing with two goals.

Fellow SA product Brodie Grundy also enjoyed a solid day out, convincingly winning the ruck battle against Bailey Williams.

Footy in the Adelaide Hills was another big hit. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Scoreboard

WEST COAST 2.0 7.6 8.7 11.12 (78)

SYDNEY 3.5 6.7 10.10 15.14 (104)

BEST

Eagles: Yeo, H.Reid, McGovern, Kelly, Hunt

Swans: Heeney, Gulden, Blakey, Hayward, Warner, McDonald

GOALS

Eagles: Waterman 2, Cripps 2, J.Williams, H.Reid, Petruccelle, Maric, Long, Kelly, Hunt

Swans: McDonald 2, Heeney 2, Hayward 2, Gulden 2, Ch.Warner, Roberts, McLean, Fox, Adams

INJURIES Eagles: Luke Edwards (hamstring), Ryan Maric (ribs) Swans:nil.

9,225 at Adelaide Hills

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

EDWARD HOLLAND’S VOTES

3 Isaac Heeney (SYD)

2 Errol Gulden (SYD)

1 Elliot Yeo (WC)

Originally published as AFL Gather Round Sydney v West Coast: All the news, analysis and colour from Mount Barker