There was a lot to like about Sydney’s 11-point win over Fremantle on Sunday.
The way they blew the Dockers out of the water in the middle across the first half. The way they closed it out defensively across the second. Their accuracy in front of goal, given their lack thereof in recent times. The shut-down job performed by James Jordon on Caleb Serong and the continued excellence of Brodie Grundy.
Even the way the SCG’s controversial Paddington End turf performed was pleasing, which is to say that it wasn’t a factor at all. Credit to the curator.
But this is 2025, and that means anything good for the Swans has to be balanced out by something bad. On this occasion, it was the sight of Joel Amartey hobbling off the field in the dying seconds, just as victory beckoned, joining fellow forward Tom Papley in the team’s injury ward.
Tom Papley hurt his hamstring on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
It’s lighter right now than it has been for most of the season, but it’s never empty. It’s been that sort of season, and coach Dean Cox released a knowing sigh when he was asked about the fate of two of his most important attacking cogs, and how it feels like the universe is conspiring against him.
“You just want your best players playing as often as possible, and for them to get a run at it,” he said.
Papley came off towards the end of the first half clutching at his left hamstring, having only just returned from a lengthy heel injury, while Amartey’s season has been constantly interrupted by minor injuries and suspension.
The verdict on both players will emerge in the early part of the week once they’ve undergone scans, but Cox can ill afford for them for be out for long if they are to be any chance of playing finals.
Their 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) win over the Dockers, closed out by Hayden McLean’s third goal of the afternoon, leaves them in 10th position on the ladder, but 12 points behind the pack of nine teams above them who are jostling for spots in the top eight.
Sydney have drawn level on points (28) with Port Adelaide, whose coach Ken Hinkley all but wrote off their September hopes after their defeat to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
In contrast, Cox is still holding out hope, but it is couched in cold, hard reality.
“We’ve always thought if we can get our best team on the park and playing consistently together, it allows us to play the way we want to play,” he said.
“Those players [Papley and Amartey] are crucial, they’ve spent a fair bit of time out, the others have learnt from them having them out, and now hopefully we can try and get them to gel together as quickly as possible.
“But yeah – we’re not in the position to be able to go, ‘Oh yeah, what’s happening?’ a month out. We just continually look at what’s right in front of us.
“That’s tomorrow morning, at the minute.”
James Jordon.Credit: via Getty Images
So as the Swans await the prognosis ahead of next weekend’s trip to face St. Kilda at Marvel Stadium, there is time to reflect on the positives - the biggest one being a negative, in terms of Jordon’s total blanketing of Serong, who was held to just 11 possessions. Serong has not touched the ball as little as that in a game of AFL football since the fourth of his career, back in 2020.
Jordon had only nine disposals himself, but kicked two important goals, both at important moments in a fairly tense, often see-sawing contest in front of 32,007 fans.
“An unbelievable effort,” Cox said.
“The footy club can’t speak highly enough of what James does. He spends time looking at his opponent, coming up with a plan, he has the mental aptitude to be able to sustain and hold on ... he’s a massive part of helping our team play well.”
