Resurgent Swans faces huge test against Richmond

The next challenge for early season sensation Sydney is the toughest in football with the Swans to tackle reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG next Saturday.

Sydney young gun Logan McDonald during the Swans’ win over Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

The next challenge for early season sensation Sydney is the toughest in football with the Swans to tackle reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG next Saturday.

In a clash featuring the two biggest names in football — Lance Franklin and Dustin Martin — the Easter Saturday afternoon outing pits an emerging contender against the AFL’s champion side.

There is much to like about the style of football played over the opening fortnight.

Several sides including the Swans and Tigers, who were strong 29-point winners over Hawthorn on Sunday, have adapted quickly to a change in rules that has opened up the game.

They are among the five unbeaten sides after two rounds, with Port Adelaide, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, who on Sunday defeated West Coast by seven points, also enjoying strong starts to the season.

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The early excellence of Richmond, in pursuit of a premiership hat-trick, Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs is scarcely surprising given their flag ambitions.

Expect tales of their successes and strengths to be written all the way through to September.

The bright opening by Melbourne has alleviated the pressure that would have fallen on coach Simon Goodwin had the Demons produced another slow start.

The Swans entered the season with optimism but their opening win over Brisbane and a regulation triumph over Adelaide has boosted expectations.

The return of Franklin, who kicked three goals, understandably drew the spotlight after his extended stint out of the game.

But what is important from a season perspective is that the Swans appear to have a well-balanced and versatile attack capable of kicking big scores, which reduces reliance on the ageing champion.

On Sunday Tigers coach Damien Hardwick, who last year upset Swans coach John Longmire by criticising their “fold-back” game style, laughed when those comments were brought up.

“We have made up, me and ‘Horse’. Gee they are kicking goals aren’t they? That was something last year where I was out of line and expressed my remorse and “Horse’ took it as well as he could. At the end of the day they are 2-0 versus us as 2-0 and it’s going to be a great game. Hopefully our fans come out to support us and I am sure they will rock the ’G next Saturday. It’s going to be exciting to see our fans back at the ’G with 75 per cent (capacity).”

“They are good, aren’t they, the Swans. I watched them yesterday, they are bloody exciting to watch. I got up on the couch yesterday like the rest of Australia when Big Bud (Buddy Franklin) got that goal. They have some incredible youngsters, they are an exciting team to watch. I can’t wait for our boys to hopefully rise to the challenge.”

2020 draftee Logan McDonald continued his excellent start to the season with two goals, while Sam Reid shapes a third tall marking option capable of stretching defenders.

The versatility and strength of Isaac Heeney, who has developed into a player of the highest quality, makes him a dangerous forward, as evidenced by his six goals in 2021.

Tom Papley is lively and team-oriented while the forward smarts of another 2020 draft recruit in Errol Gulden has seen him kick four goals in the first two weeks.

The Swans’ best score last season was 74 points, admittedly in a season played with shortened quarters.

But they only managed to reach the century twice in 2019 and last kicked more than 120 points before the past fortnight in 2018 in a win over St Kilda.

The challenge is to maintain the scoring rage against the defensive excellence of the Tigers, who have conceded the fewest points in the competition during wins over Carlton and Hawthorn.

Melbourne has started in a manner expected of them in 2019 when they were viewed as a potential premier, playing with aggression and potency to beat Fremantle and St Kilda.

Crucial to their opening wins is the resurgent form of Demons who lost their way after the run to the preliminary final in 2018.

Tom McDonald, who kicked 53 goals when shifted forward that year, dropped weight over the pre-season and is moving well in an attack missing injured pair Ben Brown and Sam Weideman.

Other Demons who looked to be on the way to the scrap heap, including Neville Jetta and former skipper Nathan Jones, have also found close to their best form.

Max Gawn remains a premium ruckman, Christian Petracca an ever-present threat and while the highlight reel of Kysaiah Pickett will be something to behold, most valuable is the pressure he applies.

Defenders relieved by the retirement of Cyril Rioli a couple of years ago have a new threat boasting similar speed and stealth.

Goodwin is contracted until the end of next season but entered this year under pressure given the disappointment of the past two seasons.

It should be noted, however, that only a horror five days in Cairns last September in which they lost to the Swans and Dockers cost Melbourne from making the eight in 2020.

The Demons need to straighten their kicking — they have booted 11.14 (80) and 12.19 (91) in their wins over Fremantle and St Kilda but they are scoring and defending well.

Another strong performance against the Giants in Canberra next week would set the stage for an enthralling clash against Geelong in Round 4.