AFL round 8 Sydney Swans v GWS: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Swans’ 14-point win over the Giants

Jake Stringer hasn’t been able to fire since his move to the Giants, and Adam Kingsley says the star forward may need a week on the sidelines to get his fitness up to senior level.

Jake Stringer maintains he “couldn’t be happier” with his start to life at the Giants, as coach Adam Kingsley admits the club’s star recruit may miss a game in the coming weeks to get his fitness up to scratch.

Stringer was named as the sub for just the third time in his career against the Swans, coming into the game in the second half and kicking three final-quarter goals to give GWS a chance at victory.

However, it wasn’t enough for the Giants as they succumbed to their fifth-straight loss to their cross-town rivals.

Kingsley confirmed post-match that the decision to make Stringer the sub was due to an illness he carried throughout the week, and also conceded he made an error in selecting the former Bomber to play last week against the Western Bulldogs.

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“His preparation into all season has been, ever since he got quite crook a week and a half before opening rough, a bit patchy,” Kingsley said.

“He got crook again last week and played crook. And so I made an error of judgement there playing him. I thought he’d be okay, but he wasn’t.

“We thought if we can get a good block of running into him after being the sub, then that’ll help him in future weeks.

“We need to get some work into him to get him near his best. And if that means he misses a week and we use that extra week to train him and get some work into him, then that’s what we’ll do.”

After his much-publicised move north to the Giants, Stringer’s start to life at the club has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. Coming into the Sydney Derby, he had kicked 3.12 and was yet to make the most of some of the chances he had in front of goal.

Stringer was the sub in the derby on Sunday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

But despite the outside noise, he is confident that his best is just around the corner and believes the narrative could have been very different if he had converted a few more of his opportunities.

“I’m getting plenty of looks, it’s just that I wasn’t capitalising,” Stringer said. “I’ve seemed to be having four or five shots every week and obviously haven’t been taking my chances, it wasn’t as if the opportunities weren’t coming.

“We always knew it was going to take time and I feel like we’re slowly starting to get there. It was never going to be a seamless start. I mean, if I’d kicked my goals it probably would have been, but hopefully we can take a bit of credit from today.

“Internally, I couldn’t be happier and couldn’t be in a better place. That’s all that matters to me, coming in as a new player, that I’m playing my role and executing it well.

“There’s still a lot of learnings and a lot to play out, but I feel like I’m definitely taking steps week by week, which is important.”

Stringer’s cameo was easily his best involvement yet in a Giants’ jumper, providing his teammates with a much-needed energy boost, and doubling his goal tally for the season, when the game was on the line.

Watching on from the sidelines in the first quarter, the 31-year-old felt that yet again it was just a small patch of the game where they let themselves down. But his brief performance was certainly a positive for the Giants to take away from the SCG.

“Our start was obviously very disappointing,” Stringer said. “They jumped us and got a five-goal head start, and then we had to be able to peg that back.

“At the minute, it seems to be a little trend in our game where it’s a 20-minute patch, it’s really hurting, so we’ve got to address that.

“I had a bit of an interrupted week, to be able to get on and have an impact, that’s the aim when you’re the sub. I was lucky to get on the end of a couple late, but ultimately it was too late in the game.”

Kingsley added: “His goals were kind of when we needed them. Just keep in the hunt and we’re still a chance here type of thinking.

“We know his capability. We’ve got to get him near his best in terms of fitness and athleticism in the short term so that he can reach what he’s capable of.”

‘IMMACULATE’ RECORD SHOULD HELP MELICAN AFTER BIG HIT: COX

Swans coach Dean Cox called for the ‘immaculate’ record of Lewis Melican to be taken into account as the defender awaits his fate with the MRO.

Melican collected Toby Bedford with high contact in a contest for the ball, ultimately forcing him out of the game at halftime.

Bedford passed a HIA, but was ruled out with complaints of blurred vision with nasty swelling present.

Cox said the incident wasn’t a characteristic of Melican’s game.

“I’ve only seen it briefly. I understand that it’ll go through the AFL and the tribunal. Obviously we hope Toby is okay,” he said.

“Lewis has probably got an immaculate record (at the tribunal). The way he plays his footy, he isn’t malicious.

“He’s always been a ball player and that’s why we love having him at our footy club. That will play out in the next couple of days.

“You want to back your players in playing at a level that doesn’t overstep the mark.”

GWS coach Adam Kingsley confirmed Bedford’s eye bore the brunt of the collision, but wouldn’t be drawn in to comment on the challenge from Melican.

“He seems okay. He’s just got really blurred vision. He can’t see out of that eye at all,” Kingsley said.

Giant Toby Bedford is collected by Sydney's Lewis Melican. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“We had to make the sub at halftime which was quite disappointing for us.

“I didn’t really see it and I haven’t watched the replay, so it’s not really fair for me to make comment.”

The incident wasn’t isolated with both teams refusing to take a backwards step in a spiteful 30th edition of the Sydney Derby.

After a disappointing defeat to the Gold Coast, Cox said he called on his players to take the contest to the Giants.

I think in every game you’ve got to get to the line and test it,” he said.

“We’re in such a ruthless, competitive environment that you have to get to there (the line) as often as you possibly can.

“We went away from that last week, so the players wanted to redeem that. They did really well.”

Lewis Melican checks on Toby Bedford after a clash on the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

SWANS CLAIM FIERY DERBY WIN

Sydney has ensured its remains within striking distance of the top eight after a 14-point derby victory over GWS.

There was no love lost between the Swans and Giants as the 30th edition of the Sydney Derby proved one of the fieriest.

Battle lines were drawn inside 20 seconds with the first push and shove of the afternoon, setting the tempo between two sides with a genuine dislike of each other.

Hayden McLean capped Sydney’s early dominance with a big shoulder on Connor Idun, before Lachie Ash responded with a late shot on James Rowbottom that had the majority of the 39,260 at the SCG seeing red.

Sydney's Hayden Mclean and Giants Jack Buckley. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Things settled down in the second half, with the Swans in pole position to make it five-straight over the Giants when they led by 15 coming into the final term.

GWS tried to mount a late charge, but Sydney was able to find another gear, sealing the game with Joel Hamling’s first career goal and ending a three-game skid in the process to come out on top 12.15 (87) to 10.13 (73).

The loss resigns the Giants to their third loss in succession ahead of a challenging road trip away to Geelong.

BLOODS ON FIRE

Sydney’s intent from the opening bounce was spot on as they ambushed the Giants throughout the opening exchanges.

The opening centre clearance saw them march inside 50 within seconds, completely dominating GWS on their way to kicking the first five goals of the contest.

They ran rampant through the corridor with their counter-attack beating the Giants at their own game.

Their 31-point advantage was gradually chipped into by the Giants late in the first term and throughout the second, getting them back to within a kick at the main break.

It was hot early and it continued all day. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

JUDICIARY CONCERNS

The MRO will have its hands full with a few incidents set to draw attention.

The most notable was Lewis Melican midway through the second quarter.

A bouncing ball was there for the taking with him and Toby Bedford both charging in, before the Sydney defender collected him high with his fist, drawing claret and his eye noticeably swelling up.

Substitute Jake Stringer was injected into the game for Bedford at halftime.

Toby Bedford was subbed out after a collision with Lewis Melican. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

TAKING CONTROL

Chad Warner took the contest early and was a key man in setting the tempo for what would prove to be Sydney’s most impressive win of the season so far.

He put the writing on the wall in the first quarter with 10 disposals, including four inside 50s and two score assists to help open up a lead that the Swans would never relinquish.

Warner finished with 24 disposals and seven clearances.

GREEN SHOOTS

If there’s one positive to take from the Giants, it’s Jake Stringer’s form in front of goal in the fourth quarter.

Much has been made of his woes in front of the big sticks since moving north.

But he gave GWS some life with three majors on a disappointing afternoon for the club.

Jake Stringer gives the Giants a spark 🤩#AFLSwansGiantspic.twitter.com/srQ0Eqm6O1

— AFL (@AFL) May 4, 2025

SCOREBOARD

SYDNEY 5.4 6.5 8.10 12.15 (87)

GWS 2.1 5.5 6.8 10.13 (73)

BEST

Swans: Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Hayden McLean, Justin McInerney, James Jordon

Giants: Finn Callaghan, Tom Green, Callan Ward, Lachie Ash

GOALS

Swans: James Jordon 2, Isaac Heeney, Caiden Cleary, James Rowbottom, Hayden McLean, Will Hayward, Nick Blakey, Aaron Francis, Corey Warner, Joel Hamling, Angus Sheldrick

Giants: Jake Stringer 3, Aaron Cadman 2, Darcy Jones, Jacob Wehr, Callan Ward, Jesse Hogan, Tom Green

INJURIES

Swans: N/A. Giants: Toby Bedford (eye), Kieren Briggs (ankle)

39,260 at SCG

SEAN TEUMA’S BEST

3: Chad Warner (SYD)

2: Finn Callaghan (GWS)

1: James Jordon (SYD)

Originally published as AFL round 8 Sydney Swans v GWS: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Swans’ 14-point win over the Giants