Sydney Derby: Jack Buckley and Taylor Adams open up ahead of Saturday’s Battle of the Bridge

In Saturday’s Derby, Jack Buckley will be masterminding Sydney’s downfall – but, strangely, he was once on the other side. Plus, Taylor Adams on Brodie Grundy and the AFL’s New South Wales ambush.

One of Sydney’s newest recruits Taylor Adams is flying high after a flawless start to life in the red and white. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Somewhere in the back of a cabinet or storage closet out there exists a rare Sydney Swans NEAFL guernsey with the No.56 on the back from the 2017 season.

It didn’t get much use, just the one game. But it’s a memory that will always stick close to current Giants defender, Jack Buckley.

Having grown up a part of the Swans Academy, Buckley took time away from the game before picking the Sherrin back up again at age 19.

He went on to have a foot in both camps, training with the Swans before playing for the Giants’ NEAFL side on the weekends. However, one weekend in August proved to be an exception after being called in at late notice as a top-up player.

In the match against the Lions, he lined up alongside current Swans Harry Cunningham and Ollie Florent in what would be his only professional match in the red and white.

“I played one game in the NEAFL for Sydney the year I got picked up by the Giants as a rookie,” Buckley said. “I think it was the record for listed players in the game, Swans v Brisbane.

“I didn’t see much of the field, didn’t do much either, probably four or five touches. But it was strange that period being in both camps.”

Jack Buckley in his return against the Power last week. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Having grown up as a mad footy fan in Sydney, albeit a North Melbourne supporter thanks to his family’s links to the club, trips to the SCG became a regular occurrence for Buckley.

He had front-row seats for many of the Swans’ biggest moments and has seen their rise to become one of the biggest sporting clubs in Sydney.

But on Saturday afternoon, he will yet again be masterminding their downfall and will have an important role to play in defence.

With Sam Taylor ruled out due to injury, Buckley is set to be the Giants’ No.1 key defender against a Swans side that boasts the best attack in the competition.

Whether it’s Joel Amartey who kicked nine goals against the Crows, or the constant threat of Will Hayward, Tom Papley or any of their dynamic midfielders, Buckley knows that the Giants will have their work cut out for them.

“They’re clearly the best team in the comp right now in what they’re putting out every week,” he said. “But we’re not shying away from that, it’s a great challenge.

“We had a good win on the weekend and we’ve got a little bit of momentum back. Now, it’s time to start building.

“You look forward to whoever you end up on. These days you’re a bit on everyone, you’re not really stuck on one player, but I’m keen to play on a real, in-form forward.

“I think the Sydney Derby is slowly getting a bit of recognition in the broader AFL community for how good it is. They’re always tight, physical contests and both teams really get up for them.”

Buckley returned from injury in the win against Port Adelaide. He was only on the sidelines for a few weeks with a calf injury, but it was long enough for him to be itching to pull the boots on again.

“The first centre bounce went straight down (Mitch) Georgiades’ throat and he kicked the first and I thought, ‘Alright, we’re back on here’,” he said.

Buckley spoils Sydney star Isaac Heeney earlier this year. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos

While it wasn’t a pretty victory, especially with the Giants kicking 9.19 for the match, it was the way they won that stood out.

The 51 points they restricted Port Adelaide to was the second-fewest points they have conceded all year. They were also able to limit the Power to four fewer inside-50 marks than they average in 2024 and Buckley helped lead the way with two intercept marks of his own.

It’s clear that the Giants play their best footy when their defence is on top, and even without Taylor for at least the next fortnight, Buckley is confident their structures are now in place to bring the orange tsunami back to life.

“It was good to get back in the winner’s list and get that belief back, not that we really lost it,” he said.

“Especially as a back line after Hawthorn, I wasn’t out there but as a group, we were disappointed with that game. We wanted to come out and get back to what we do, which is what we’ve done all year.

“The tsunami is 50-50 offence and defence. But the offence is a by-product of good pressure and winning the ball up the ground. We don’t want to have to win the ball in our back 50 and rebound from there.

“There’s no better way to continue on with that and play the best team in the comp and test yourselves out and show that we’ve got a lot to say in this back half of the year.”

Giant steps: Swans star Adams revels in AFL’s NSW takeover

When Taylor Adams made the move to Sydney, he knew there was a sense of unknown attached to it.

The Swans were delicately poised following a year where they scraped into finals and lost some of their biggest names. Would they bounce back into top-four contention or struggle without the pillars of their side?

However, the 30-year-old’s return to NSW couldn’t have gone better and has fitted in like a glove for Sydney. Since coming into the Swans’ side against West Coast at Gather Round, Adams has won nine straight matches.

If you include his last couple of appearances at Collingwood, he is currently on a streak stretching to 11 games.

Talking about a winning streak is a bit like saying Macbeth in a theatre, but Adams knows it’s important to appreciate when the footy gods are looking your way.

Taylor Adams is relishing life at the high-flying Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“You’ve got to savour those moments, it’s not too often you win nine on the trot,” Adams said.

“It’s been a great start to the year for the footy club. We’ve played fantastic footy.

“It’s been a crazy season so far, no one probably expected us to be where we are. But we’ve put in a lot of hard work and we’re reaping the reward of that.”

After a knee injury in pre-season delayed his start to life in the red and white, Adams is now playing an integral role in their incredible season.

He easily had his best game for the club against the Crows, finishing with two goals and 22 disposals in yet another come-from-behind victory.

With places in the Swans’ midfield in high demand, Adams has found himself playing a hybrid of positions and often doing the grunt work to let the others shine.

While he admits he struggled initially adjusting to the new environment, playing in a system where the intangibles are so highly celebrated has brought the best out of him.

Adams had his best game for the Swans in the win over Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Early on, I probably just had to get some run in my legs,” Adams said.

“I probably underestimated the impact the knee injury would have on my overall and football fitness.

“When I got back into the team, I felt a bit sluggish. Before that Lions game out at Blacktown, I felt really strong and fit and I feel like I’m back there now.

“They’ve nursed me back into the intensity of playing a full game in midfield, or high minutes as a high forward and pinch-hitting in the midfield, which has been smart.

“I think probably the thing we’ve done that’s most pleasing is the consistency to our role and our ability to help each other out.

“I’ve played in some good teams now, and that’s what good teams do. They cover for each other and play selfless roles when needed. Guys are putting their personal games, and what they might see as their strengths, to the side to allow for others to shine.”

The former Pie has worked hard to have a big impact for his new team. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The likes of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden rightly get the plaudits. But it’s other players like Justin McInerney, Jake Lloyd and James Jordon that he singles out throughout the interview. Then there’s Adams’s fellow new recruit and close mate Brodie Grundy who he states is currently the game’s best ruckman.

“He’s playing as good a football as I’ve seen and I played with him when he won back-to-back Copelands and two All-Australian blazers,” Adams said.

“His overall impact across the season has to have him starting in the All-Australian ruck if you’re asking me, that midfield just isn’t as dominant without him.”

But having been around a system constantly in premiership contention, he knows what it takes to go deep in September.

And while the selflessness of the team has them well placed, he also encourages the young group to start thinking ahead about what lies ahead.

Adams finally feels back to his best after a knee injury late in pre-season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“They’re always thinking about other players,” Adams said of his teammates.

“We talk about the footy gods, all of a sudden the good karma comes back around and a Heens or Gulden can pop up on the back of their work.

“Their form is not luck, it’s off the back of really hard work and their ability to sacrifice their own games for the team.

“It is hard (being the team to beat). But I actually do encourage players to think about what could possibly be. But your immediate focus is on getting better. We’re playing good footy, but we’re not playing perfect football. You have to time your run.

“If we’re making each other better, from my experience, I’ve seen that as the number one priority for a team that wants to continue to stay on top of the ladder.”

The Swans will be looking to extend their winning streak to 10 matches this weekend against their cross-town rivals, the Giants.

For Adams, it is a homecoming of sorts after starting his career with two seasons at GWS before his move to Collingwood.

There’s no split loyalties for Adams, but he still cherishes the time he spent at the Giants. Picture: Mark Evans

Seeing two NSW-based teams run out in front of a packed stadium at Olympic Park is something that Adams never would have thought was possible back then. Now, it’s just an accepted part of the sporting landscape that Sydney is a footy town.

“I have fond memories of the place,” Adams said.

“I’m so grateful to the support we were given as teenagers and the opportunity to develop under experienced players and coaches.

“My first experience of football up here, it was pretty obvious that this was NRL territory. It doesn’t feel like that anymore, it feels like we’re having a profound impact, both clubs.

“I see a lot more red and white than I probably ever did back then, and the statistics back it up that kids, men and women are playing more footy.

“It’s a credit to both programs for putting the time and effort in, and also the AFL for having a dream to get out west and follow that opportunity.”

Originally published as Sydney Derby: Jack Buckley and Taylor Adams open up ahead of Saturday’s Battle of the Bridge