Latest news with #SydneySwans
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Unfit for footy': Calls for AFL to make drastic move after $25m 'disgrace' at SCG
The AFL is being urged to take the Sydney Swans away from the SCG until the iconic ground fixes its turf, after 'dangerous' and 'disgraceful' scenes on Friday night. The Western Bulldogs' 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96) victory over the Swans was marred by complaints about the playing surface, with a number of players slipping over at the Paddington end. The SCG hosted an Andrea Bocelli concert in April, and the turf at one end hasn't bounced back like curators expected. The patchy turf was particularly noticeable in photos of the Bulldogs chairing Marcus Bontempelli off the ground after his 250th game. During the contest, a number of leading voices in the game expressed their displeasure. Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown labelled the surface a 'disgrace' and questioned how the AFL allowed the game to go ahead. 'Are you allowed to play on this surface? This is as bad as I've seen in years,' he said on Fox Footy. 'I remember playing early on the Colonial Stadium surface - and that was a sandpit - but this is shocking. 'This is disgraceful mismanagement by the ground, how they've allowed it to get to this. It's a real shame. It's been a really good spectacle, the ball movement, when both teams get going.' Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said: 'What are the longest studs you're allowed to have now? Because you need three-inch studs to keep your balance here.' Dale Thomas said on Channel 7: 'The grass in that turf area, it's as bad as you see. Players trying to lead, both forward and defender, all going to ground. Chunks coming out of it everywhere. It's horrible up that end.' Former Adelaide Crows player Josh Jenkins labelled it a "genuine disgrace" on social media, while fans were calling for the AFL to step in and take the Swans to a different venue until it's rectified. On Fox Footy, leading reporter Jon Ralph pointed out the AFL got very lucky that someone wasn't injured. 'It frankly looks unacceptable and dangerous,' he said. 'In the last 27 days, there has not been a concert or, indeed, anything at this venue since the Adelaide contest (at the end of May). 'So, clubs receive a pre-match report, they basically have to tick it off from the AFL. They've been told they're not allowed to wear those long, metal stops. So, they're very much out of options. (There's) $25 million worth of AFL product out there - they're desperately hoping there is not an injury in the second half.' He later wrote on social media: "The Sydney curator has nine days to get this deck ship-shape before Sunday week's clash against Fremantle. It's been downright dangerous. The AFL does a ground inspection before each game so this passed, but so lucky we didn't have a serious injury." RELATED: Ken Hinkley spotted in eye-opening moment in coach's box West Coast make decision on controversial Nick Daicos move Speaking after his side's nine-point loss, Swans coach Dean Cox said: 'There's been some challenges with the surface throughout the year. I look into other things; that's where I spend my time - things I can control.' Just me or is the SCG still complete rubbish and unfit for footy? — Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) June 27, 2025 Unsafe for play…..You hand out fines & suspensions for players laying 'dangerous' tackles but let 46 blokes run on sand them to Optus next week 😉 — DtFootyFeen (@dtfootyfeen) June 27, 2025 That's shocking. @scg & @marvelstadiumau need to decide if they are an entertainment venue or a sports venue. — Harry O'Brien (@Harry_OBrien9) June 27, 2025 It's been 85 days since the Andrea Bocelli concert at the SCG. It's beyond unacceptable the state of the SCG turf at the Paddington End. #AFLSwansDogs — Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) June 27, 2025 That SCG turf is a disgrace. Clearly not safe. Unbelievable both clubs ticked it off as ok to play on#AFLSwansDogs — Kane Neville (@kaneneville) June 27, 2025 How terrible is the surface at the @scg swans v Dogs. @AFL need to do something about this. Deplorable and unprofessional — Alan Williams (@willieal9) June 27, 2025 Sorry but the surface of the SCG was a disgrace. Surprised there wasn't A major knee or ankle injury out there tonight. Don't know what's gone wrong, but it's not up to AFL standard. — WanderingLach 🌏✈️🏈🏏🏉 (@LachlanB_) June 27, 2025 AFL should be speed dialling Accor Stadium, NRL plays Friday night there and not for the rest of the weekend. NRL might have to allow it or whatever but that would should be in much better shape than the SCG — Ky Broome (@KyBroome35) June 27, 2025
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dogs celebrate Bont milestone with tense win over Swans
The Western Bulldogs have given their AFL finals hopes another shot in the arm with an entertaining nine-point win over Sydney. Joel Freijah kicked four goals as the Bulldogs seized control early and resisted a strong Swans fightback to post the 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96) victory at the SCG on Friday night. It was the Bulldogs' third-straight win and improved their record to 9-6, solidifying their spot in the top eight, while the Swans (6-9) face an uphill battle to play finals. Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli (18 disposals, one goal) celebrated his 250-game milestone but was upstaged by his protege Freijah, who kicked a career-best four majors from 23 touches. In game 250, this is VINTAGE Bont 🙌#AFLSwansDogs — AFL (@AFL) June 27, 2025 Key forwards Sam Darcy and Aaron three goals each against an undersized Sydney defence, who lost Tom McCartin (illness) before the bounce and Dane Rampe (calf tightness) mid-game. Swans superstar Isaac Heeney threatened to drag his side over the line with five goals and ruckman Brodie Grundy was outstanding after quarter-time. Tom Papley lit a fuse when he targeted Darcy before the bounce and the Bulldogs' spearhead responded with the first two goals of the match. Both were teed up by Tim English, who had three goal assists in the first term alone, and the Dogs led 4.2 to 3.5 after term one. Darcy's brilliant finish on the run kick-started the second quarter and another two goals from Naughton helped the visitors skip 28 points clear before the main break. But the Swans, despite a series of bad misses from set shots, hit back with three consecutive majors to trim the margin to nine points by halftime. Sydney's Heeney and the Bulldogs' Freijah lit up the third quarter at opposite ends - kicking four goals and three respectively - and the lead changed hands six times as the teams repeatedly traded blows. At one point the Dogs kicked four consecutive goals to reassert their authority, but Heeney's fourth meant the teams kicked 6.1 apiece in a rollicking third term. The contest became an arm-wrestle in the final quarter and the Bulldogs hung on, with Hayden McLean blowing a late change to set up a grandstand finish. McLean's miss with about one minute left continued the trend of the night, with the wayward Swans kicking 4.10 from set shots to the Dogs' 8.5. Sydney swingman Aaron Francis faces scrutiny over a swinging arm to Lachie Bramble's body. Francis and direct opponent Rory Lobb can also expect fines over their prolonged wrestling match in the final term.
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL Round 16 Sydney vs Western Bulldogs live blog: scores, stats and live commentary
Last year's grand finalists the Sydney Swans have to keep winning to have any chance of making it to September, while the Western Bulldogs will look to dominate at the SCG through emerging superstar Sam Darcy. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
AU Financial Review
a day ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
‘Air rights' deals are coming to a suburb near you
Former Sydney Swans president and Rose Bay resident Peter Weinert has bought the 'air rights' above a development under way in front of his home to protect his privacy and harbour views, using an arrangement more often struck in the commercial property market. But Sydneysiders can expect to see more such deals following planning reforms by the Minns government to allow more residential density and higher-rise apartment blocks in suburban streets.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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 — 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."
