Hang it in the Louvre: Heeney's heroics keeps Swans in finals hunt
That's it. That's all you need to know from this contest at the SCG.
This game will be instantly forgotten, but not their performances - one of which goes straight into footy's hypothetical Louvre.
As a team, Sydney did what they had to do and nothing more on Saturday evening, easing past North Melbourne by 31 points to remain in mathematical finals contention.
The 12.12 (84) to 7.11 (53) result was satisfactory. But more will be needed from the Swans in the coming weeks if they are to do the improbable and leap into the top eight and salvage what has been a dicey first season under Dean Cox - especially as the calibre of their opposition improves, starting with Friday night's Sydney derby against the Giants.
For that to happen, the Swans need to lift to the immaculate level set by Heeney and Grundy, rather than hoping they can carry them there.
Words could suffice, but in this case, numbers are better, because Heeney's stats line almost sounds like a line from 12 Days of Christmas. Heeney had 34 disposals - the most of any player on the ground, and five more than the next best - to go with 13 clearances, 11 score involvements, nine inside 50s, eight marks, five tackles and an equal-career best five goals. There was probably a partridge in a pear tree in there somewhere, too.
No player has ever recorded 12 or more clearances plus five goals in a game since Champion Data began recording AFL statistics in 1999. Very rarely do you see players carve it up to this extent.
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The Advertiser
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I am committed to using this as an opportunity to learn and get better." Andrew's slur came as Sydney prepare to hold their annual celebration of LGBTIQA+ communities, when they host Essendon at the SCG on August 2. The 20-year-old was taken with pick No.55 in last year's draft and is yet to make his AFL debut. Earlier this month, West Coast midfielder Jack Graham was found guilty of conduct unbecoming and suspended for four matches for using a homophobic slur during his side's loss to GWS. Another three AFL players were suspended for using homophobic slurs last season. "It is important that we continue to make clear that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our game at any level or in the wider community for that matter," AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement on Wednesday night."It is disappointing to be dealing with another incident and while we will always examine the individual circumstances, the clear message is that this language is not acceptable in any workplace and that includes on the field of play"
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4 hours ago
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News.com.au
4 hours ago
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Young Swans defender Riak Andrew cops a huge ban for using a homophobic slur
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