All the AFL news ahead of Sydney’s Anzac Round clash against Gold Coast

The Swans’ brand has almost always been tough and contested footy. But one club great thinks that could be out the door after a slow start to life under Dean Cox.

Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos has launched a scathing attack on the Swans’ brand, accusing them of playing “Harlem Globetrotter-type football”.

The Swans have plummeted to 2-4 in Dean Cox’s first season after a narrow loss to Port Adelaide that means they have dropped all three SCG games.

Roos said the Swans were playing football that was “un-Sydney-like” with little tackle pressure and little system.

As the club’s long-time coach he valued pressure and contest and yet according to Roos the lack of tackle pressure is alarming.

The Swans have made a slow start under Dean Cox. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney now takes on Gold Coast at home and must defeat the Suns to keep the club’s top four hopes alive.

“I know a lot of them and are attached to a lot of them,” Roos said of the Sydney players.

“I just don’t think they have got a great system at the moment. We are talking about the team that played in the grand final last year but I talked about it at the end of last year.

“They just look like a team that plays Globetrotter football. Nineteen tackles at halftime is ‘un-Sydney-like’ and I got a couple of text messages from former Sydney players and (they said it) was un-Sydney-like,” he told ABC Radio.

“So they have to go back to basic systems. They have got a lot of injuries so I don’t want to hang Dean Cox but we are talking about a pattern here and I just think get back to a really good system. Don’t just rely on talent and Harlem Globetrotter-type football. Anyone can chase, anyone can tackle and that’s been the basis of the Swans for the best part of 20-something years.”

In search of a cohesive forward line Cox threw Tom McCartin forward in the first half with no impact, as Sydney roared home but botched a host of easy chances in the defeat.

Roos believes the Swans are relying too much on star power instead of collective effort.

“I don’t think there is a team in the competition that relies so heavily on two players — Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner,” he said.

“If Isaac Heeney is stopped it’s really hard for the Swans to win and when he gets going, you talk about (Marcus) Bontempelli and (Nick) Daicos. I don’t think there is a player who impacts his team as much as Isaac impacts the Swans.”

‘HE TURNED INTO CAREY’: IS THIS FINALLY THE MAKING OF EX-DON?

- Lachlan McKirdy

Aaron Francis is set for an extended stay in the Swans’ side, turning into prime Wayne Carey according to his teammates as he almost single-handedly dragged Sydney over the line against Port Adelaide.

Named as the sub for his first appearance of the season, Francis came into the game for Tom Hanily and kicked three goals from 13 touches in the last term as the Swans searched for their first home win of the season.

After the Power opened up a 34-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Francis’ heroics helped bring the deficit back to eight points.

The Swans weren’t able to capitalise on the momentum and fell to their fourth defeat of the season. And although their forward-line issues were laid bare once again, Francis’ emergence was a rare positive in a disappointing start to the year.

Aaron Francis celebrates one of his three final-quarter goals. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“He turned into ‘Duck’ (Wayne) Carey in that last quarter, it was unreal,” Will Hayward said.

“He’s a really good competitor. He just came in and we needed a role from him to stop some of their big boys and he did that.

“He had four shots on goal, it was amazing. Really pleasing for him.”

Aaron Francis almost turned the game in the final term

The No.6 selection in the 2015 draft, Francis has struggled to find any consistency since moving to the Swans in 2023.

His eye-catching performance against Port Adelaide was just his 21st AFL match in the red and white, spending nearly as much time in the Swans’ reserves over the past two and a bit seasons.

The Swans were second-best for much of the clash against the Power, with coach Dean Cox admitting they probably didn’t deserve to win. But on a day where Sydney will lament being unable to finish their work forward of the ball, kicking 10.17 from their 61 inside 50s, Francis showed a rare clinical edge that is set to be rewarded.

Francis is now set for more senior opportunity. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Cox praised the 27-year-old for his ability to make the most of his opportunity and for always putting the team first, even if it was often to his own disadvantage.

“I think he’s probably warranted an opportunity to play again,” Cox said. “The thing with Aaron, and to his credit, he came back fit in the pre-season.

“He’s always been an emergency for most weeks this year. I tell him on a Wednesday or Thursday that he’s going to be an emergency again, and he just goes, ‘Well, I’m just going to keep working. When I get my opportunity, I’ll make sure I’m available and I’m ready for it’.

“I think that’s what you want from any player, is their ability to perform at the level underneath. And when their opportunity comes, it’s funny that they just play the same way… and his versatility is really important for the team.”

Sydney’s forward line will be a hot topic again this week as they look to resurrect their season against the Suns on the Gold Coast.

Hayden McLean led the line in Joel Amartey’s absence with a hamstring injury, kicking 2.4, while Tom McCartin played the first half in the forward line before shifting back to defence after what Cox described as not “a great night”.

Logan McDonald is closing in on a return but only had one goal from eight touches against reigning VFL premiers Werribee on Saturday.

While Francis is looming as a short-term answer for Cox if his cameo against Port Adelaide is anything to go by, the former top-10 draft pick will be hoping this is the start of a new lease of life for his AFL career.

Originally published as All the AFL news ahead of Sydney’s Anzac Round clash against Gold Coast