Damning vision that will haunt Swans players for rest of their careers

An AFL great has applied the blowtorch to the Sydney Swans as several stars were called out over damning grand final moments.

The Sydney Swans playing group will be left licking their wounds for weeks to come, but some will be haunted for the rest of their careers.

That’s according to AFL great Matthew Lloyd who highlighted damning vision from the grand final.

Watch the best coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

It was a bloodbath on the MCG as the Lions ran riot, crushing the Swans with a 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory.

In the wash up to the one-sided result, Lloyd put Swans players in the spotlight and called out several lacklustre moments that ultimately summed up the club’s day.

You can watch Lloyd’s bake in the video player above

“Let’s look at some contents that will haunt Sydney Swans for the rest of their career. Here is Brodie Grundy, unforgivable by him and Hayden McLean was just as bad in the ruck getting rag dolled,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“Dane Rampe has been a wonderful player for a long time, you don’t get beaten like that in a one-on-one contest.

“This is McInernery … this is unforgivable. What is that? That is as bad as it gets on grand final day.

Brodie Grundy was rag dolled on the day. Credit: Nine

Justin McInerney didn't want to grab the ball. Credit: Fox Footy

“Errol Gulden on Ashcroft, just trailing in when the game is not on your term, trailing in letting Ashcroft kick a goal.

“Look at Blakey down here, where is the touch. Poor grand final by Blakey. Didn’t want the touch, didn’t want to have body contact, so Rayner gets a run and jump at the footy.

Nick Blakey didn't want to get close to Cam Rayner. Credit: Nine

“Tom Papley has been in the face of everyone until grand final day when he coughed the ball up. Blakey, what sort of a tackle was that? He has to live with this, they all have to for the rest of their time in this game where they embarrassed themselves on grand final day.

“This one here, the chase from Joe Daniher, and this is where Johnny Longmire is going to have to live with this for the rest of his time I knew they were out coached, out played out muscled in the biggest game of all which they will have to live with.”

It was an ugly day for a whole host of Swans players. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The ugly nature of the showing from the Swans led to fierce backlash from several greats of the club with none more scathing that Jude Bolton.

“Just 33 tackles from the Swans. Embarrassing to let it become such an uncontested game,” Bolton wrote on X.

“And not have any control of the footy. Belted at stoppages. Terrific performance from the Lions”.

The result means the Swans have now lost their past two grand final performances by a combined 141 points after they were blown away by Geelong to the tune of 81 points in 2022.

Originally published as Damning vision that will haunt Swans players for rest of their careers