Sydney’s destruction of Essendon on Saturday at the SCG was the most complete performance we saw over the weekend.
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» Five talking points from Sydney vs Essendon
Adelaide dismantled GWS to open the 2017 finals to confirm their premiership favouritism. And yes, Richmond crushed Geelong to follow-up, igniting the Tiger army in the process.
But while the Swans were playing inferior opposition to what the Crows and Tigers faced, their form was merely a continuation and escalation of what they have shown since Round 7. After a 0-6 start, they have now gone 15-2, with their only losses coming to Hawthorn.
Sydney have now won their last five games of football, and in those results have been three wins of 65 points or more, plus a 46 point win against next week’s opponent, Geelong, at their much-vaunted Simonds Stadium home.
The Swans have won five of their last six games against the Cats, with winning margins of 46, 37, 38, 43 and 110. Geelong don’t play the MCG, where this week’s final will be played, particularly well. And the Cats pulled up bloody, bowed, sore and limping after Friday night.
Be in no doubt, Sydney will be winning this week, and they’ll be winning in style.
Essendon were frenetic with their pressure in the first term, clearly having absorbed the lessons of Richmond the night before. Their intensity was first class, but they just lacked enough polish to put some score on the board, breaking down with their kicking inside 50.
But from quarter time, Sydney wrested complete control of the game, with a ten-goal second quarter. Unfortunately for the Dons, they had fired their only shot in the opening 30 minutes, and couldn’t sustain their ferocity. Once they wilted, the game was over.
After 40 minutes of game time, the three Swan tall forwards, Buddy Franklin, Sam Reid and Callum Sinclair, had 17 touches, 12 marks and had kicked 5.2. They dominated the Sydney forward half, with the Essendon backs, including dual All-Australian Michael Hurley, all at sea.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But the forward line was getting opportunities from a dominant midfield, which controlled the stoppages through Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker, as was easily predicted.
Essendon had the quicker players, but they were unable to use their pace due to Sydney closing down their space. With most of the game being played in the Swans half of the ground, they were able to set up their press to ensure the Bombers possessions were either under pressure or non-effective.
In fact, disposals were even across the match, as were contested and uncontested possessions. The main difference was that Sydney kicked the ball more than Essendon did, because they had more time and space than their opposition.
The Swans keep their defensive structure better than any team in the competition, and it was always going to be hard for a lower rated side like Essendon to break them down. Sydney finished sixth on the ladder, but have clearly now proven themselves in the best three sides in the league.
Looking into the future of the Bombers, they look a likely candidate for stagnation, so will need to recruit and trade well in order to raise the level of their list to a position where they can contend for a top-four spot in 2018 and beyond.
Sydney’s future is now, and a preliminary final in Adelaide awaits after an easy win next week over the Cats.
Thommo
Guest
Clarkson tipped Swans to go all the way
Milo
Roar Rookie
Fair call PD and thanks! One thing tho, if the improbable does come to pass Id like to think delirium will reign, but obnoxiousness I hope not. The pain of 37 years of heartache will hopefully temper that trait somewhat!
Birdman
Guest
we'll see. Cats may not win this week but if Scott's a coach's bootlace, he NEEDS to re-jig his forward line to give them a chance. If Swans get over them, the Crows won't be easy.
Mark
Guest
Well you've convinced me, I'll ask the AFL to officially reverse the result.
Mark
Guest
And how'd that go? And the year before? And the year before that?
Mark
Guest
Win one final in 16 years but Sydney have the poor finals record. Hmmmmm.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Milo, the similarity I see that you share with the 2016 Dogs is that you've played well consistently all year and yet aren't rated highly by the general public, mostly because they're judging you on recent history rather than this season. Being the underdog in each final and 'nothing to lose' is a definite mindset advantage. It's great for footy to have you guys doing well and great to see the unique passion of Tiger supporters, even though I know the rest of us will have to put up with obnoxious delirious supporters if you win! Good luck. Go Tiges!
Chokopickle
Guest
10 mins into the second quarter the bombers had more free kicks than points, 10 to 9. Might have been the only way they were in the game at that point.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
GWS have been strangely inconsistent and unconvincing this year. If they had Richmond's hunger across the board they'd be a certainty to make the GF. Good luck to the Tigers - it sure will lift the roof of the MCG if they make it to GF day. I agree the Crows are favourite but if the Swans beat them - which they could - they'll enter the GF as favourite. It will be interesting to see how Richmond handle being favorite in the PF.
Robin Barker
Guest
2014 was a wipe-out - the Swans looked like rabbits caught in headlights. Hawks deserved the win 2016 was a different matter entirely. The crowd (as far as I could see 70% were yelling for the (under) Dogs, the emotion, that damn 'fairy-tale' nonsense and last but not least the umpiring (probably affected by the huge support on the ground for the Bulldogs), which the AFL came out and acknowledged was questionable - four free kicks to the Dogs wrongly awarded. Plus Buddy was injured (shoulder and ankle), and Dan Hannebury also received a significant leg injury. It was a close match that could have gone either way and there was no doubt the Bulldogs had a crowd and umpiring advantage. I mean, look where the fairy-tale Bulldogs are this season, and look where the Swans are. If Swans do get up and make the GF with no significant injuries they are in with a chance however, yet again whoever plays Richmond (Crows maybe) will have to face similar conditions, not to mention that damn fairy-tale emotion hoo-haa, that the Swans did last year. If the Swans don't get there fingers crossed that the Crows do, and take Richmond out.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Swans, no worries, all the way to the flag!!! I've said this all along and week by week I'm being proven 'RIGHT"!!!
Mattyb
Guest
In what way are Geelong fans being embarrassing? They want to play more games and finals in Geelong. Surely they have every right to make that point. Also,the club holds the view they are supporting. I would think comments saying they should play their home finals away or at neutral venues embarrassing.
TomC
Roar Guru
That's more or less how I see it. Richmond have given themselves every opportunity, but they will need to play better footy than they did against Geelong even to beat the Giants. I'd still have the Tigers as favourites in the prelim though. GWS don't look like they're capable of playing four high standard quarters of footy. One way or the other I think Adelaide are firm favourites.
13th Man
Guest
Crows are still the favorites for mine. Sydney are a great side and it's still a long road for them and whilst if anyone can do it they can, getting over the Crows in Adelaide is no easy task. Meanwhile for the Tiges the path is clear, the draw has opened up and you'd back them to beat whoever of GWS and West Coast comes through this week. Neither play the MCG well at all and in front of 95,000 Tigers fans it'll be very difficult to knock them off. Am still predicting a Crows Tigers GF.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Indeed PD, indeed :-) In all seriousness, everyone is talking about a repeat of your fairytale of 2016 with RFC in 2017, but I think the greater chance is that the fairytale is the Bloods. 0-6 start, four winning finals to win outside the top four and revenge sated for last year. Throw in the week off like the Doggies and maybe you've got your fairytale right there. ( I hope not btw).
Pumping Dougie
Guest
It takes a rare side in history, Milo, to win four finals in a row. ?
Milo
Roar Rookie
Stop bleating about Richmond's so called home ground advantage. Last I checked Geelong has played every one of its VFL/AFL finals at the MCG over the past 100 years or so. Except one in 2013 at KP against Freo which Geelong lost. Move on.
penguin
Guest
Well said. Too much travel will nail them in the end. GWS have their measure and will not fear them. Swans v Richmond would be a truly great Grand Final - the pressure that Richmond lay all over the ground is similar to the Doggies last year. I think that Sydney are actually a better side than the one that won the minor premiership last year and lost to the Doggies. The development of Jones, Newman, Papley, Melican and even Towers has been phenomenal. Such good young players all signed up for the future. But I can't see them getting past Adelaide a second time. Adelaide are much better than last year. If the Swans don't make it, Adelaide v Richmond would be a fitting Grand Final.
New York Hawk
Guest
Nah, neither WCE or GWS will beat the Tigers - the Tigers will beat themselves no question!
Cameron Rose
Expert
I don't think I would have argued too much against it, but I don't think they'll win the flag. They'll be hard pressed getting past Adelaide, and their records against Richmond and GWS (likely flag opponents if they beat the Crows) aren't impressive either. They may well be the best side in it, but they'll still got an enormous task in front of them.