Battle-hardened Sydney set to be handed ultimate test against fresh Geelong, writes Mark Robinson
THE battle-hardened Swans will go into this week’s preliminary final battle weary. And therein is the advantage of having the week off, writes MARK ROBINSON.
Sydney
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THE battle-hardened Swans will go into this week’s preliminary final battle weary.
And therein is the advantage of having the week off.
Geelong will have used its break to prepare mentally and physically, but it would have enjoyed Saturday night’s war of attrition at the SCG.
It was as if Patrick Dangerfield’s offering on Saturday radio that he hoped Sydney and Adelaide belted the “crap’’ out of each other was the script more than wishful thinking.
It was a slugfest between Sydney and Adelaide, four quarters of intense body contact.
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And Sydney had two major casualties, experienced defender Jarrad McVeigh and speedster forward Gary Rohan.
McVeigh injured his calf muscle in the second quarter and he will be far from 100 per cent fit for the Geelong final, and that’s if he gets up.
The more serious injury was suffered by the luckless Rohan, who suffered a knee injury in the final seconds of the second quarter.
The question on Rohan is not whether he can play this week, but if he will require surgery.
They were the setbacks for a Sydney outfit that rediscovered its acclaimed contested-footy attitude.
It was a bruising encounter from the start. While the Swans had their issues — they already have half-back Callum Mills out with a hamstring — the Crows were beset by their own injuries. They lost the game, but they did not lose respect.
Jake Lever took no further part after injuring his ankle in the second quarter, while Daniel Talia played out the game with a groin injury and could barely run. It allowed Lance Franklin to play a pivotal role.
He kicked four goals, two coming in the first quarter, one in the second quarter and an important goal in the third quarter when a Charlie Cameron-inspired Crows made a dash at victory.
Down by 38 points at halftime, the Crows kicked the first two goals of the third quarter and a run a of behinds, before Franklin nailed a typically inspiring goal from 55m to stop Adelaide’s momentum.
Goals from Tom Papley either side of three-quarter time were as valuable as any goals kicked in the game. The Crows had reduced the margin to 19 points before Papley made it 30 points.
The victory came at a cost, but it also came off a stunning first quarter.
The Swans midfield, which is the habitat of its leaders, responded to last week’s lashing from Greater Western Sydney with a typically physical assault on Adelaide.
The win had aspects of the Western Bulldogs’ stirring victory over Hawthorn on Friday night.
They won the hardball and then handballed through the congestion.
The Swans booted seven goals in the first quarter after kicking just seven goals against the Giants. It proved to be the difference at the end.
At halftime, when Sydney led 65-28, the handball count was 109-70 and it was up by 20 in contested ball.
Isaac Heeney had 21 disposals by halftime on a wing and finished with 29, but the most influential player on the ground was Josh Kennedy.
Forty two possessions and 10 clearances in a cut-throat final was testament to his champion status.
He was relentless with his pursuit of the ball and with Heeney, Dan Hannebery, Jake Lloyd, Kieren Jack, Luke Parker and Tom Mitchell, maintained a midfield dominance.
Nick Smith stopped Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins didn’t influence the game and neither did skipper Taylor Walker, who had Dane Rampe as an opponent, meaning the Crows forward line wasn’t a big enough threat when they were in an arm wrestle in the second and third quarters.
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That’s what Adelaide needed through those two critical quarters, a forward to take hold of the game. It didn’t happen.
Up the other end, Ben McGlynn and Papley combined for seven goals, 30-plus possessions and six tackles.
It was clinical from the Swans, but perhaps critical in their quest for the premiership. Geelong will be rested and the Swans will need rest.
Whatever that means will be determined about 10.15pm on Friday night.
Originally published as Battle-hardened Sydney set to be handed ultimate test against fresh Geelong, writes Mark Robinson
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