AFL stunned by Swans’ ‘appalling’ goalkicking, shocking misses in ‘extraordinary’ draw

The Sydney Swans have put on one of the worst displays of goalkicking ever seen in an “extraordinary” result at the SCG.

The Swans butchered the unlosable game.

The saying bad kicking is bad football is old as time, and the Sydney Swans proved just why with a shocking display in front of the big sticks on Friday night.

Sydney and Geelong played out an extraordinary 54-54 draw at the SCG to keep both sides’ finals hopes alive in the most underwhelming away possible.

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The Swans should have won the game in the first half but had a nightmare case of contagious inaccurate goalkicking that infected the entire team.

The Swans dominated all facets of the game, particularly in the first half, but finished with 6.18 to Geelong’s 7.12.

Geelong took the lead in the last quarter but a late goal to Braeden Campbell gave Sydney a sniff.

Robbie Fox could have won it for the Swans but cannoned his kick into the post onto the run from point blank range. He finished with three behinds.

Isaac Heeney was then nearly the hero but his snap went through for a behind to tie up the scores with a minute left.

Robbie Fox’s reaction said it all. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Isaac Heeney was allergic to the goals. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Heeney finished with no goals, three behinds and three kicks out on the full.

It was the worst shot on goal accuracy by a side this season with 25 shots or more in a game.

No words.

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) June 30, 2023

How on earth did Fox miss that #AFLSwansCats

— Val Febbo (@VFebbo96) June 30, 2023

Draw probably the appropriate result, not sure either of them deserved to win! #AFLSwansCats

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) June 30, 2023

Alister Nicholson said on Channel 7: “What an extraordinary finish to the game. This should have been a match that was over at halftime.

“They had their opportunities late. Fox missed a very gettable opportunity, Isaac Heeney under pressure couldn’t find the opening.”

Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy: “This was as appalling an exhibition of attempting a kick at goal from Sydney as we’ve seen in a long time. And that cost them the game.”

The draw means Geelong move into eighth, while the Swans tread water in the right direction in 12th on the ladder.

Sydney thrashed the Cats in the midfield and racked up inside 50s for fun, but just couldn’t convert the dominance onto the scoreboard.

The Swans led 36 (4.12) to 28 (4.4) at halftime, with 12 behinds and two kicks for goal that went out on the full.

Ruckman Tom Hickey had a moment to forget in the second quarter when he somehow missed to the right from directly in front at the top of the goalsquare.

I’m losing it at Buddy’s reaction to Hickey missing the goal… right in front of the goals #AFLSwansCatspic.twitter.com/K6mnWzfLIH

— CHANEL (@cfreezle) June 30, 2023

Tom Hickey has dead set missed from a place the Auskicker at half time would kick 99/100. Yuck. Sydney are butchering this. 4 goals from 20 shots at goal! #AFLSwansCats

— Tim Rosen (@timrosen35) June 30, 2023

I could kick better than this #AFLSwansCats

— Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) June 30, 2023

How did Tom Hickey miss from there? Photo: Fox Sports.

It was pure shock in the Swans' coaches box. Photo: Fox Sports.

Buddy Franklin and a Swans assistant couldn’t hide their shock up in Sydney’s coaches box, while John Longmire did his best to stay stony faced on the bench.

Alister Nicholson said in commentary on Channel 7: “He’s fluffed it and missed! Goodness me. There is shock everywhere. Buddy can’t quite believe what he’s just witnessed”

Hickey missed another straightforward shot in the third quarter, but he was far from the only culprit.

Geelong were far more efficient in front of goal, with a goal to Gryan Miers putting the Cats just one point behind at three quarter time. (45-44).