AFL North Melbourne v Sydney: All the news, analysis and fallout from the Swans’ big win
Riley Bice has a licence to thrill from Dean Cox. The mature-age recruit became North Melbourne’s nightmare in a remarkable performance in the Swans’ big Saturday night win.
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Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox has given his new weapon Riley Bice a licence to thrill.
A mature-aged recruit from Werribee, Bice has burst on to the scene for the injury-ravaged Swans and been a stand out across half-back.
Bice, 24, selected by the Swans with pick 41 in last year’s AFL draft, produced an eye-catching performance in Saturday night’s 65-point mauling of North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
A daring user with the ball, Bice will be implored by Cox to continue his brave movement of the ball that has caught opposition defences on the hop.
“That’s the way he plays,” Cox said.
“We speak to players about the options that they can take, some people have a little bit more of a licence than others and Riley is one of those.
“To be able to execute the way he does, he sees the game really well, and for me it’s about, if you see it, hit it, back yourself in, and so far he’s doing it really well.”
Bice had 26 disposals at 85% efficiency against the Kangaroos.
He took 15 marks, including a mix of intercept possessions and willing link up plays.
But Cox is also pleased with Bice’s defensive capabilities.
“He’s defending well first - that’s the good part about the way he’s playing - then his two-way efforts to be able to counter with the ball in hand, we know that’s one of his strengths,” he said.
“He’s doing it both ways at the minute.”
With a whole host of stars missing through injury, Cox was ecstatic with how his young Swans executed with ruthless efficiency in all facets of the game against North Melbourne, particularly after the devastating news of a heel injury to star Tom Papley during the week.
The Swans managed to register 27 scoring shots to 12 from 56 inside 50s to 37, but they did all that efficiently, accumulating 52 less disposals.
“I was really proud of the group,” Cox said.
“Going throughout the week, getting news about Tom, but the group, especially the young ones, we only had a couple of our leaders out there tonight, so the response that they gave was really pleasing.
“Off a bye, to be able to rally and play the way that they did, to obviously stop what North wanted to do, but then to be able to execute on turnover was something we probably hadn’t done for the first three rounds.
“It was a huge team effort, they were up for the fight for four quarters.”
Forward Will Hayward’s influence over the game was immense with four goals and nine score involvements from 15 disposals.
Hayward’s two-way efforts made the Swans forward line click, which also got four goals from key forward Joel Amartey, thanks largely to his side’s ability to hurt the Roos on turnovers.
“To Will’s credit, tonight he played an unbelievable game of footy,” Cox said.
“Obviously to lead up and have shots on goal, but his defensive intent and pressure on the ball carrier, to give himself multiple opportunities was really good.
“He’d been a little bit quiet for the first three rounds, so for him to reflect over the bye, to look at his game, to work as hard as he possibly could, he gets the results tonight.
“Our forward line is different, but when they all work together, they function really well.
“That’s one thing, we want to be unpredictable when we move the ball forward.”
THE FOOTY STORY OF THE YEAR? NO, NOT THE EMBARRASSING ROOS
A banged up Sydney Swans are keeping their heads above water with a host of stars out.
After losing their opening two home matches of the season, the Swans have turned their fortunes around on the road, squaring the ledger at 2-2 with loads of improvement to come.
Backing up from their stirring win over Fremantle in Perth, the Swans returned to Melbourne for the first time since last year’s harrowing grand final loss to Brisbane Lions and belted a disappointing North Melbourne by 65 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Swans were missing a host of starting 18 players, including captain Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Errol Gulden, Taylor Adams, Logan McDonald, Harry Cunningham, Lewis Melican and Robbie Fox.
It was an embarrassing second half for North Melbourne.
Up for the fight for two quarters, the Roos were ruthlessly dismantled after half-time as the Swans piled on 10 goals to three.
The Roos were riddled with turnovers, loose checking on opponents and simply uncompetitive.
At a minimum, Kangaroos fans expect their side to be contest late in games at this stage of their rebuild, but they were far from it.
If the first three weeks were a step forward, this shellacking was undoubtedly two steps back, and Alastair Clarkson’s men can expect to feel the heat this week.
Will’s world
The Swans were crying out for someone to step up inside forward 50 with goal sneak Papley succumbing to a heel injury.
Will Hayward answered the call with a superb four-goal, 15-possession performance.
Hayward displayed tremendous work rate en route to a game-high nine score involvements.
The 26-year-old’s impact was at his optimum when the game was on the line in the first half.
Bice is nice
Injuries have allowed the Swans to unearth another potential star.
A mature-aged recruit from Werribee, Riley Bice starred off the half back line for the Swans.
His sweet left foot kicking was a feature as he produced bullet-like passes for teammates as part of a 26-disposal, 15-mark performance.
The Swans had winners all over the ground with key forward Joel Amartey a beneficiary of some silver service with four majors.
After being one of the best on ground in just his third game, 24 year old Riley Bice discusses his night and his path to the league.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 5, 2025
âœï¸ BLOG https://t.co/PeJy3r2E0e
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/sxffAv7z8Mpic.twitter.com/GbV0LEcQzz
Lapping it up
New Roo Luke Parker had no interest in toning down his goal celebration against the club he played 293 games for.
Parker kicked a superb snap goal in the first quarter and celebrated with his arms outstretched in front of the Kangaroos cheer squad.
It was a relieving moment for the 32-year-old, who had created the turnover to the Swans first goal through Hayward after he was called to play on from a 15-metre kick and was caught in a crunching tackle.
Parker was one of the Roos best players on the night with two goals and 27 possessions, along with Harry Sheezel with a game-high 34 disposals.
It was an ugly night for Roos forward Nick Larkey, who kicked two goals late but was otherwise kept in check by Swans defender Joel Hamling.
Grundy takes honours
The big man battle between young Roo Tristan Xerri and Swans veteran Brodie Grundy was intriguing.
Instead of eyeing each other off and getting a run up for the ruck contests, the pair opted to lock horns from close proximity.
Even the umpires were bemused with one paying a free kick against Xerri for not providing enough space to Grundy on a centre wing ball up.
It worked for Grundy, who took the honours in the contest.
Scoreboard
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.0 5.1 6.3 8.4 (52)
SYDNEY SWANS 5.3 8.5 15.8 18.9 (117)
BEST
Kangaroos: Sheezel, Parker, Curtis, Powell, Davies-Uniacke, Tucker.
Swans: Hayward, Bice, Lloyd, Amartey, Heeney, Hamling.
GOALS
Kangaroos: Larkey, Curtis 2, Parker 2, McKercher, Zurhaar.
Swans: Hayward 4, Amartey 4, Chad Warner 2, Hanily 2, Florent, McLean, Campbell, Ladhams, Sheldrick, Roberts.
At Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LANCE JENKINSON’S VOTES
3. Will Hayward (Sydney)
2. Riley Bice (Sydney)
1. Jake Lloyd (Sydney)
Originally published as AFL North Melbourne v Sydney: All the news, analysis and fallout from the Swans’ big win
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