That sound you hear is the exhale-in-relief of Sydney Swans fans everywhere, following something of an escape act. As the old adage goes, a win’s a win, and despite being outplayed for long stretches of the contest by a gallant, inspired Richmond, the Swans, thanks in large part to that bloke in #23, the one they like to call the Bondi Billionaire, have won their ninth straight, to further banish unpleasant memories of that 1-3 start.
A 1-3 start, mind you, that featured losses on nights like this one, with a slippery surface dictating terms of the contest. There was no precipitation during the game, but the ingredients were there for a bad Swans loss, as there were bad losses in the rain or on wet tracks against North, Collingwood and GWS.
At times, this game was downright unwatchable, with both the Swans and the Tigers putting more effort into defending than scoring, as the final score – 62-51 – suggested, but, as good teams do, and as good players do, when there was a moment to be seized, when the game was on the line, it was those in red and white who snatched it, and capitalised, leading to the win.
Mark it in the books: that’s two weeks in a row where Lance Franklin has been the difference between a win and a loss for the Swans. On both occasions, he picked up a sagging team and basically carried them across the line on his own back. Not bad for a guy whose best, said the Melbourne press, is well behind him. Perhaps that was more wishful thinking than hard fact?
If the last two weeks have taught us anything, other than that the Swans are legitimate Premiership contenders, it’s that reports of Buddy’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. He’s still as dangerous a player as there is in the AFL. Last week, he was sublime and superb, clunking goals from all over the ground.
Fast forward six days, and though he wasn’t all that dominant, well-held (and, at times, somewhat illegally, it seemed) by Richmond key defender Alex Rance, Buddy managed to get produce when he needed to, kicking four straight and maintain close contact with Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal race,
All four kicks were the type you would use as an example for young kids learning how to play the game: dead-on shots that never, ever looked like missing. It’s a funny thing, because, by most statistical markers, you’d venture to say that Rance won the battle against Franklin, and he did, for the most part, but with someone as lethal as the Swans spearhead is at the moment, it only takes a momentary lapse or a bad free kicks, as led to Buddy’s last goal, the match-winner for the Swans, for him to get on top.
To their credit, Richmond were very good. I saw them in person three weeks ago for the Dreamtime Game at the MCG, and although the Tigers of Friday night were wearing the same colour jerseys, there was little comparison between the hapless, uninterested team I saw get belted by Richmond and the team who came out tonight, full of fire and belief.
The Tigers jumped the Swans early, getting out to a four-goal lead (and, soon thereafter, a game high lead of twenty-six), and were it not for some inaccuracy and poor decision-making, the Tigers would have been even further ahead. Perhaps they should have been further ahead, such was their domination everywhere but where it counts the most: on the scoreboard.
As good teams do, the Swans found avenues to goal. Franklin took a spectacular juggling mark on about the fifth attempt and goaled. Kieran Jack, despite sustaining a hand injury during the second half, capitalised on a Richmond mistake and suddenly the Swans were only down by a manageable fourteen points at the half.
In the second stanza, the big names stood up for the Swans. One can only imagine the fearful spray John Longmire must’ve delivered at half-time. It’s fair to say that the Horse wouldn’t have been doing that much whispering. Whatever he said, however, seemed to work wonders. Important players who were quiet in the first half – Jarrad McVeigh, Luke Parker, Jake Lloyd and Adam Goodes – were suddenly right amongst the action.
As good teams do, these Swans found a way back through these big names, who got more of the football, and were able to, if not have a huge impact on the scoreboard, at least get the Sherrin moving in the right direction. That left Buddy to do his thing, and though the goals weren’t all of the highlight reel variety – except for his snap off one step in the fourth to snatch back the lead for Sydney – they were equally as important as last week's show-stoppers.
The Swans persevered despite the injury to Rhyce Shaw, whose verve and dash from half-back was missed by the Swans. News of Shaw’s condition will be a big talking point in Sydney as the Swans head into a week that will end with a battle against the Greater Western Sydney Giants next Saturday night at the SCG, a game that the Swans surely have had circled on their calendar ever since the five-goal defeat in round one.
Rest easy, Swans fans: this was an eminently forgettable win, but with Tippett, McGlynn and Hannebery to come into this team, the hunt for ten consecutive victories, and a top-two finish, is still alive and well.
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