The Sydney Swans host the Essendon Bombers in their season opener at ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:35pm (AEDT).
The Swans have rolled many of their familiar faces from last season, with the one major change being the inclusion of young gun Isaac Heeney.
After finishing his first pre-season with the Swans, Heeney has shown he has all the attributes to be a star: smarts, skill, poise and an AFL-ready body.
The big question entering every game the Swans play is who will stop Buddy Franklin. The question becomes a conundrum when his opponent is the Bombers, who he has tormented with bags of goals for many years. Cale Hooker is the likely to first crack, with Michael Hurley or Jake Carlisle set to move over if things get out of control.
John Longmire will be coaching game number 100 in what has been a very successful career to date.
The Bombers’ only new face for this match is Adam Cooney, who will play his first game in the red and black after crossing from the Bulldogs. It will be interesting to see how much life is left in the old dog, although he has shown he can still dominate a match when his knee allows him.
James Hird will be back in the coach’s seat for the first time since his suspension. His short kicking-game style was kept intact by Mark Thompson, with their only point of difference seemingly being which end of the ground Hurley and Carlisle are most suited.
This will be the first official hit-out for many Bombers, with around half the list sitting out the preseason. This could leave them rusty, and against such a formidable outfit as the Swans it could spell trouble.
Prediction
The Swans have too much class across the lines and should get an easy win at home. However, if there is a time to upset one of the premiership favourites it’s in Round 1.
The Bombers’ covert preseason may help throw the Swans’ coaching staff off. In saying that, I’ll stick with the known quantity.
Swans by 30 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:35pm AEDT.
Mark
Guest
Would he get more votes if the knockout was against a Bombers player?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Just seeing this score for the first time after listening to the game on the radio up to midway through the 3rd quarter. I wasn't expecting that! A case of Essendon's interrupted pre-season finally kicking in?
Big Dallo
Guest
What a great comeback by the swans. Played some of the worst footy I have seen for a while but for a team that generally looses the the first 3 or 4 games of every season I will take that one and look to next week.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
The Sydney Swans competed a stunning fourth quarter comeback against the Essendon Bombers to take the 4 points in their opening match. Trailing by 34 points entering the fourth quarter, the Swans pile on 7.4 to 0.0 to overrun a tiring Bombers outfit. Remarkably the comeback was achieved without Luke Parker, who had collected 35 possessions in the first three quarters to be clearly the Swans best, but was knocked out cold in a marking contest collision with teammate Lance Franklin. However they seemed to find their mojo as soon as Parker left the field on the stretcher. Their pressure around the ground began strangling the Bombers who began finding it hard to get the ball in their forward half where much of the game had been played. Franklin and Tippett loomed large, taking marks and kicking 2 goals each in the final quarter, while Captain Kieren Jack setup numerous attacking forays with his run and dash. Franklin was in everything in the last quarter, giving away frees, knocking out teammates, goal-saving chase-down tackles, and goals, and his work rate lifted his teammates. Isaac Heeney in his debut game kicked the sealer and look every bit a budding superstar contributing 17 disposals, 7 tackles, 7 inside 50’s along with his goal. The Bombers will rue a missed opportunity to take the 4 points from Swans after starting the game strongly and controlling the game comfortably for three quarters. Heppell and Watson led from the front early, dominating the clearances and pumping the ball into their forward 50. They were served well by new recruit Adam Cooney who scored 3 goals in his debut for the Bombers. Hurley and Hooker were blanketing Franklin and Tippett, and the Swans looked were looking important attack for much of the match. The early pressure of the Bombers was impressive, tackling hard and making the classy Swans outfit fumble and look second rate for three quarters. But when you have the amount of match winners the Swans have your never out of the contest, regardless of how improbable it can sometimes seem. My Best: 3 Votes – Luke Parker , 35 possessions, 10 Clearances, 6 tackles (63% TOG!) 2 Votes – Kieren Jack , 29 possessions, 6 clearances, 1 goals 1 Vote – Lance Franklin, 12 possessions, 4 tackles, 3 goals, 1 knockout
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
What a comeback by the Swans! Down 34 points heading into the 4th, at which point they had only scored 26 points. It was achieved without Parker, who was knocked out and had been their best player to 3/4 time. Wrap-up to come.
Alan
Roar Guru
GO SYDNEY! GREAT COMEBACK
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - SWANS win by 12 points
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
20 seconds to go, Swans have this
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS The desperation Bomber handball is trapped by Heeney in front of goal, he snaps the ball across his body for a goal. That could be the sealer. SWANS 10.12.72 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 1.50
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
The Bombers are struggling to keep the ball out of the Swans forward 50
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS BUDDY! The Swans are full of running, Buddy charges towards goal and receives the handball off the deck, kicking the goals which puts them in front. SWANS 9.12.66 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 3.50
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS ALL SQUARE!!! Goddard hands it straight to Jack on half back, Jack's kick is a grubber and a scramble ensues in the Swans 50. Jack gets it back again and kicks the goal. SWANS 8.12.60 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 6.21
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS The ball comes back into the Swans 50, Franklin brings it to ground, Bird collects and snaps over his shoulder for the goal. A kick in it now!!! SWANS 7.12.54 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 7.29
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND SWANS Jack receives the handball and kicks across his body but it stays left. SWANS 6.12.48 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 7.43
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND SWANS A scramble in the Swans forward 50 spills to Tippett who kicks the ball off the deck but it slams into the post. SWANS 6.11.47 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 9.51
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS There we go, this time the Swans hit the leading Tippett for a mark 30m out on an angle. His kick goes high but through the sticks. SWANS 6.10.46 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 11.11
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Swans getting a little Buddy focused here, getting the ball in to him but he is often 2 on 1 in the contest. They might need to look elsewhere.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
7 inside 50's to the Swans, 0 to Essendon in the 4th
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Swans lifting here
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS The kick-in is punched back to the Swans goal, the big man Tippett picks it up and snaps it over his shoulder for the goal. SWANS 5.10.40 BOMBERS 9.6.60 Q4 - 16.09