SCG surface in the spotlight as Swans host Freo in must-win clash
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12.35pm
POLL: Who's winning this - and by how much?
12.24pm
Today's teams
Sydney v Fremantle, 1.10pm, SCG
Sydney midfielder Oliver Florent has been dropped again for the AFL clash with Fremantle, who have been bolstered by Alex Pearce's return.
Florent's run of 130 consecutive matches ended when he was axed in round 12, and he has been left out once more after reappearing as the sub last week.
Joel Amartey (hamstring) and Tom McCartin (illness) will return for the Swans (6-9) at the SCG on Sunday, stiffening up the key positions at either end.
Key defender Joel Hamling is also back to face one of his former clubs, with Aaron Francis (suspended), Dane Rampe (calf) and Florent going out.
Fremantle skipper Pearce (shin) is back for his first game in six weeks in a boost to his team's finals chances.
Experienced midfielder Jaeger O'Meara also returns for the first time since round six after he was held back because of hamstring tightness last week.
Nat Fyfe (hamstring) and Oscar McDonald (omitted) are out of the Dockers' (10-5) line-up.
AAP
SYDNEY
B: L.Melican 43 T.McCartin 30 H.Cunningham 7
HB: C.Mills - C 14 N.Blakey 22 S.Wicks 15
C: J.Lloyd 44 Ch.Warner 1 E.Gulden 21
HF: J.McInerney 27 W.Hayward 9 T.Papley 11
F: B.Campbell 16 J.Amartey 36 H.McLean 2
R: B.Grundy 4 I.Heeney 5 J.Jordon 17
I/C: A.Sheldrick 12 J.Rowbottom 8 J.Hamling 29 J.Buller 39
SUB: M.Roberts 34 EMG: O.Florent 13 C.Cleary 33 P.Ladhams 19
IN: T.McCartin, J.Amartey, J.Hamling
OUT: A.Francis (suspension), D.Rampe (injured), O.Florent (omitted)
FREMANTLE
B: L.Ryan 13 B.Cox 36 A.Pearce - C 25
HB: H.Chapman 5 K.Worner 23 J.Clark 6
C: M.Johnson 44 C.Wagner 34 N.O'Driscoll 30
HF: M.Reid 16 M.Frederick 32 S.Bolton 15
F: S.Darcy 4 J.Treacy 35 J.Amiss 24
R: L.Jackson 9 C.Serong 3 A.Brayshaw 8
I/C: N.Erasmus 28 B.Banfield 41 P.Voss 20 I.Dudley 43
SUB: J.O'Meara 2
EMG: J.Aish 11 J.Sharp 14 O.McDonald 21
IN: A.Pearce, J.O'Meara
OUT: N.Fyfe (injured), O.McDonald (omitted)
12.22pm
Road to the finals
That finals race I was talking about? Here's that in a visual way.
12.19pm
Hello and welcome
G'day footy fans.
Vince Rugari here reporting for duty from the SCG for today's clash between the Sydney Swans and Fremantle, where the biggest point of interest is perhaps not what happens on the turf, but the turf itself, and how it plays.
It's a cracking day here in Sydney. The sun is out and it's unseasonably warm. The rain that has dominated the week is gone. But I'm looking at that controversial Paddington End which is currently bathed in shadow from the Noble-Bradman stand and you immediately get a sense of why that part of the ground struggles to recover from major events.
Last week's Swans-Bulldogs game saw players routinely slipping over at that end. The surface, however, has been ticked off by all concerned and should be much better this time around. We shall see.
Meanwhile … big game for both teams. Sydney (12th, 6-9) needs a win to keep their feint finals hopes alive, while the Dockers (9th, 10-5) need a win to get back into the eight and position themselves way for what looks like a nine-way tussle for those finals positions over the back end of the season.
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Daily Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
AFL 2025 Sydney Swans defeat Fremantle Dockers, Round 17, as Tom Papley injured at the SCG
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Sydney Swans are still alive in season 2025 after a thrilling 11-point win over Fremantle on Sunday. But their 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) win has come at a cost with Joel Amartey (groin) limping off in the dying stages and Tom Papley (hamstring) subbed out at half time. It's another painful close loss for the Dockers, who missed the finals last year after several narrow defeats. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Sydney led from start to finish, as Freo's tough record against the Swans rolls on with a sixth loss in their last eight games. The Swans were out by 20 points in the third term before the Dockers found their fight through big man Luke Jackson (13 disposals, two goals) who kicked truly after the three quarter time siren. Injured star Tom Papley with Isaac Heeney after the win over Fremantle. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) Docker Jye Amiss had multiple chances to close the gap in the final term but blew them. When Michael Frederick put his running shot out on the full in the dying stages, Sydney were able to hang on for the win. Fremantle's top eight hopes now hang in the balance, but for Sydney they stay alive in season 2025, although coach Dean Cox is sweating on his latest injuries. 'We need to work out the extent of that (Papley's injury) and the same with Amartey late in the game,' he said. 'We'll see throughout the next couple of days how that settles, get some scans and the results will come from that.' Their 11-point win at the SCG was set up on the back of a first half midfield 'bashing'. At half time, the Swans nailed five goals to none from centre clearance in worrying signs for Freo coach Justin Longmuir. 'They've been so dominant – plus-13 for clearance but in particular their centre bounce work, five goals from centre bounce,' Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch said. 'It is the mechanics of the four that are in there,' Dermott Brereton added. 'When (Brodie) Grundy is in there predominantly, they are having the first look, the first touch, the first clearance, first possession. It's predominantly going Sydney's way. 'That's the difference in the game as it stands.' Brodie Grundy was given the massive task of taking on Freo's tag team of Sean Darcy and Jackson. Brodie Grundy (left) was a standout again for the Swans. (Photo by) But Sydney's 'shining light' delivered in another outstanding performance. 'He's like a man possessed,' Fox Footy's Dwayne Russell said. 'He's a different man Brodie Grundy this last month and a bit. 'He did finish fourth in the best and fairest last year.' Statistics showed Grundy has leapt into the #11 ranked player in the AFL – up from the #95 he was ranked for the first six rounds. By full time, Grundy racked up 20 disposals, 33 hit-outs and a goal in a stellar performance. The Swans have shown vast improvement since the likes of Errol Gulden returned, but Cox will be hoping for some good news on the injury front ahead of next week's clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium. Originally published as Swans' slim finals hopes still alive but injuries strike again in Freo win
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Swans upset Freo in SCG thriller
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir lamented a lacklustre first half from his side but remained defiant about their AFL finals prospects after an 11-point away loss to Sydney left them outside the top eight. The Swans, who never trailed, twice held a 20-point lead in the third quarter at the SCG before the Dockers clawed back to within a point in a nerve-shredding final quarter. But despite having plenty of ball In their offensive half, the visitors couldn't muster another major, with goals to Will Hayward and Hayden McLean securing Sydney a 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) victory. The Swans snapped Fremantle's six-match winning streak and with the Bulldogs, Suns and Giants all winning, the Dockers dropped from sixth to ninth. "We're a game out of the four, we lost a game, we're not out of it, (we'll) keep fighting," Longmuir said. Sydney rose to 10th with their third win in eight home games, but are still three wins out of the eight with seven rounds remaining. "We're not in a position to be able to go, 'Oh yeah, what's happening a month out'. We're just continually looking at what's right in front of us," Sydney coach Dean Cox said. McLean kicked three goals, with Joel Amartey, Jake Lloyd and James Jordon bagging two each in an intense contest which brought the first upset of a round in which the top nine faced the bottom nine. Fremantle had three more inside 50s and four more contested possessions while Sydney notched nine more clearances. Sydney scored 60 points from stoppages, with Longmuir saying clearances at the centre bounce was an issues for his team in the first half. "There was some structural set up stuff that wasn't right in the first half and those centre bounces were unacceptable," he said. "We gave ourselves a chance, which I'm proud of, but in the end they had too much class and finish than us." In-form Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy piled up a match-high 12 clearances and dominated early, but Sean Darcy fought back well In the second half. Jordon held Caleb Serong to just four touches in the first half and 11 for the game while also hurting the Dockers with two goals. "He was unbelievable," Cox said of Jordon. Captain Callum Mills topped Sydney's possessions list with 26, while fellow prime movers Errol Gulden and Chad Warner tallied 25 and 24 respectively. Fremantle forward Shai Bolton, playing his 150th AFL game, didn't touch the ball till late in the second quarter but was far more dangerous in the second half. Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy both kicked two goals for Fremantle. Nathan O'Driscoll accumulated 26 possessions and Andrew Bradshaw 24. After all the criticism of the SCG surface at the Paddington End over the past week there were no issues on a dry sunny Sydney day. Sydney will check on the condition of forward Tom Papley who was replaced at halftime after suffering a hamstring injury, and forward Joel Amartey, who had groin tightness. It was just Sydney's third home win in eight games. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir lamented a lacklustre first half from his side but remained defiant about their AFL finals prospects after an 11-point away loss to Sydney left them outside the top eight. The Swans, who never trailed, twice held a 20-point lead in the third quarter at the SCG before the Dockers clawed back to within a point in a nerve-shredding final quarter. But despite having plenty of ball In their offensive half, the visitors couldn't muster another major, with goals to Will Hayward and Hayden McLean securing Sydney a 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) victory. The Swans snapped Fremantle's six-match winning streak and with the Bulldogs, Suns and Giants all winning, the Dockers dropped from sixth to ninth. "We're a game out of the four, we lost a game, we're not out of it, (we'll) keep fighting," Longmuir said. Sydney rose to 10th with their third win in eight home games, but are still three wins out of the eight with seven rounds remaining. "We're not in a position to be able to go, 'Oh yeah, what's happening a month out'. We're just continually looking at what's right in front of us," Sydney coach Dean Cox said. McLean kicked three goals, with Joel Amartey, Jake Lloyd and James Jordon bagging two each in an intense contest which brought the first upset of a round in which the top nine faced the bottom nine. Fremantle had three more inside 50s and four more contested possessions while Sydney notched nine more clearances. Sydney scored 60 points from stoppages, with Longmuir saying clearances at the centre bounce was an issues for his team in the first half. "There was some structural set up stuff that wasn't right in the first half and those centre bounces were unacceptable," he said. "We gave ourselves a chance, which I'm proud of, but in the end they had too much class and finish than us." In-form Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy piled up a match-high 12 clearances and dominated early, but Sean Darcy fought back well In the second half. Jordon held Caleb Serong to just four touches in the first half and 11 for the game while also hurting the Dockers with two goals. "He was unbelievable," Cox said of Jordon. Captain Callum Mills topped Sydney's possessions list with 26, while fellow prime movers Errol Gulden and Chad Warner tallied 25 and 24 respectively. Fremantle forward Shai Bolton, playing his 150th AFL game, didn't touch the ball till late in the second quarter but was far more dangerous in the second half. Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy both kicked two goals for Fremantle. Nathan O'Driscoll accumulated 26 possessions and Andrew Bradshaw 24. After all the criticism of the SCG surface at the Paddington End over the past week there were no issues on a dry sunny Sydney day. Sydney will check on the condition of forward Tom Papley who was replaced at halftime after suffering a hamstring injury, and forward Joel Amartey, who had groin tightness. It was just Sydney's third home win in eight games. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir lamented a lacklustre first half from his side but remained defiant about their AFL finals prospects after an 11-point away loss to Sydney left them outside the top eight. The Swans, who never trailed, twice held a 20-point lead in the third quarter at the SCG before the Dockers clawed back to within a point in a nerve-shredding final quarter. But despite having plenty of ball In their offensive half, the visitors couldn't muster another major, with goals to Will Hayward and Hayden McLean securing Sydney a 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) victory. The Swans snapped Fremantle's six-match winning streak and with the Bulldogs, Suns and Giants all winning, the Dockers dropped from sixth to ninth. "We're a game out of the four, we lost a game, we're not out of it, (we'll) keep fighting," Longmuir said. Sydney rose to 10th with their third win in eight home games, but are still three wins out of the eight with seven rounds remaining. "We're not in a position to be able to go, 'Oh yeah, what's happening a month out'. We're just continually looking at what's right in front of us," Sydney coach Dean Cox said. McLean kicked three goals, with Joel Amartey, Jake Lloyd and James Jordon bagging two each in an intense contest which brought the first upset of a round in which the top nine faced the bottom nine. Fremantle had three more inside 50s and four more contested possessions while Sydney notched nine more clearances. Sydney scored 60 points from stoppages, with Longmuir saying clearances at the centre bounce was an issues for his team in the first half. "There was some structural set up stuff that wasn't right in the first half and those centre bounces were unacceptable," he said. "We gave ourselves a chance, which I'm proud of, but in the end they had too much class and finish than us." In-form Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy piled up a match-high 12 clearances and dominated early, but Sean Darcy fought back well In the second half. Jordon held Caleb Serong to just four touches in the first half and 11 for the game while also hurting the Dockers with two goals. "He was unbelievable," Cox said of Jordon. Captain Callum Mills topped Sydney's possessions list with 26, while fellow prime movers Errol Gulden and Chad Warner tallied 25 and 24 respectively. Fremantle forward Shai Bolton, playing his 150th AFL game, didn't touch the ball till late in the second quarter but was far more dangerous in the second half. Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy both kicked two goals for Fremantle. Nathan O'Driscoll accumulated 26 possessions and Andrew Bradshaw 24. After all the criticism of the SCG surface at the Paddington End over the past week there were no issues on a dry sunny Sydney day. Sydney will check on the condition of forward Tom Papley who was replaced at halftime after suffering a hamstring injury, and forward Joel Amartey, who had groin tightness. It was just Sydney's third home win in eight games.
Courier-Mail
7 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
AFL 2025 Sydney Swans defeat Fremantle Dockers, Round 17, as Tom Papley injured at the SCG
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Sydney Swans are still alive in season 2025 after a thrilling 11-point win over Fremantle on Sunday. But their 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) win has come at a cost with Joel Amartey (groin) limping off in the dying stages and Tom Papley (hamstring) subbed out at half time. It's another painful close loss for the Dockers, who missed the finals last year after several narrow defeats. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Sydney led from start to finish, as Freo's tough record against the Swans rolls on with a sixth loss in their last eight games. The Swans were out by 20 points in the third term before the Dockers found their fight through big man Luke Jackson (13 disposals, two goals) who kicked truly after the three quarter time siren. Injured star Tom Papley with Isaac Heeney after the win over Fremantle. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) Docker Jye Amiss had multiple chances to close the gap in the final term but blew them. When Michael Frederick put his running shot out on the full in the dying stages, Sydney were able to hang on for the win. Fremantle's top eight hopes now hang in the balance, but for Sydney they stay alive in season 2025, although coach Dean Cox is sweating on his latest injuries. 'We need to work out the extent of that (Papley's injury) and the same with Amartey late in the game,' he said. 'We'll see throughout the next couple of days how that settles, get some scans and the results will come from that.' Their 11-point win at the SCG was set up on the back of a first half midfield 'bashing'. At half time, the Swans nailed five goals to none from centre clearance in worrying signs for Freo coach Justin Longmuir. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'They've been so dominant – plus-13 for clearance but in particular their centre bounce work, five goals from centre bounce,' Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch said. 'It is the mechanics of the four that are in there,' Dermott Brereton added. 'When (Brodie) Grundy is in there predominantly, they are having the first look, the first touch, the first clearance, first possession. It's predominantly going Sydney's way. 'That's the difference in the game as it stands.' Brodie Grundy was given the massive task of taking on Freo's tag team of Sean Darcy and Jackson. Brodie Grundy (left) was a standout again for the Swans. (Photo by) But Sydney's 'shining light' delivered in another outstanding performance. 'He's like a man possessed,' Fox Footy's Dwayne Russell said. 'He's a different man Brodie Grundy this last month and a bit. 'He did finish fourth in the best and fairest last year.' Statistics showed Grundy has leapt into the #11 ranked player in the AFL – up from the #95 he was ranked for the first six rounds. By full time, Grundy racked up 20 disposals, 33 hit-outs and a goal in a stellar performance. The Swans have shown vast improvement since the likes of Errol Gulden returned, but Cox will be hoping for some good news on the injury front ahead of next week's clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium. Originally published as Swans' slim finals hopes still alive but injuries strike again in Freo win
