Key Swans forward backed to respond from horror outing
Sydney coach Dean Cox has thrown his support behind Joel Amartey, backing the key forward to respond from a horror outing in front of goal.
The 25-year-old was plagued by inaccuracy in last week's important win over Port Adelaide, finishing with 0.6.
Another of Amartey's shots from 40m fell short, while two other attempts at goal sailed out on the full.
The Swans got away with it against the inconsistent Power, but the finals contending Western Bulldogs, buoyed by superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli's 250th match, will be a different proposition at the SCG on Friday night.
"The first part is to create opportunities and give them to yourself," Swans coach Dean Cox told reporters on Thursday.
"We've had three players in the last five years take seven marks inside 50.
"He's (Amartey) done it twice, and Lance (Franklin) has done it once so that's the first part of the puzzle that we have wanted to get right.
"And to his credit, his ability to lead with the ball, the blocking off the ball, and the work for each other certainly allowed that. And then now it's about finishing off his work.
"Before that game, he was above 70 per cent from set shots.
"So people have days like that, it's about him trying to work on it throughout the week, which he's done."
Joel Amartey takes a big grab and ices the game with a calm snap in the dying stages on Friday night🤝Mark of the Week, presented by @qatarairways pic.twitter.com/HnL9MldmSh
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) May 18, 2025
Amartey has endured a frustrating year, restricted to just seven games because of injury and suspension.
But Sydney are undoubtedly a better team when he plays, having a 4-3 record with him involved this year.
The Swans have started to turn around their campaign following an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.
Star midfielder Chad Warner, who will run out for his 100th AFL game, this week revealed the Swans had realised they had dropped their on and off-field standards in the first half of the campaign.
Last year's painful grand final belting by the Brisbane Lions, Cox taking over from long-time coach John Longmire, and a stack of key players missing contributed to the 4-8 slump.
But if Sydney can make it three-straight wins by accounting for the Bulldogs they will genuinely be back in the hunt for finals.
"We understand that at times things can waiver from that, so it's just about calling it out when it arises," Cox said about the Swans' standards.
"It probably took a week or two too long, I think the bye certainly gives you a chance to reset and look at the whole program and what's actually happening, what we need to work on, and that's what we did.
"On top of that, we understand you have to train at a certain level to play at a certain level.
"The boys have improved in that area, which has been good."
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