Sydney coach John Longmire couldn’t fault his charges’ efforts in a close home loss to Collingwood, although two of his co-captains didn’t have much luck.
He didn’t have much luck with two of his co-captains, but Sydney coach John Longmire says his battling team took a step forward despite their AFL loss to Collingwood.
Sydney led the red-hot Pies by ten points in the last quarter at the SCG on Friday, but the visitors executed better down the stretch to win 80-73.
Key forward Sam Reid retuned to form with an equal career-best haul of six goals, but Sydney lost midfielders Josh Kennedy (medial ligament knee injury) and George Hewett (head knock) in the second half.
Asked about co-captain Kennedy’s injury, Longmire said, “we’ll have to wait and see but it’s definitely a few weeks (out) I’d say”.
For the second straight SCG game co-captain Dane Rampe had a moment to forget late in the contest.
After climbing up a goalpost at the death against Essendon two weeks ago, the key back gave away a critical 50-metre penalty, from which Chris Mayne kicked the clinching goal from right in front.
Collingwood led by just two points with three minutes to go before Mayne’s initial attempt looked set to be recorded as a behind.
However Rampe was called for stepping over the mark just after the ball left Mayne’s boot and he was given a second, easier opportunity.
“He (Rampe) has been incredible this season as a key defender and he very rarely gets beaten, he’s just such a competitor, he gets most things right, not all things right,” Longmire said.
‘He played well, but he shouldn”t have did what he did in that last bit.”
Longmire said Reid played as well as he’d ever seen, but felt he benefited from the return of Sydney’s other veteran key forward, Lance Franklin, after a four-week hamstring injury.
While Franklin had just six touches and kicked only two goals, his presence ensured Collingwood couldn’t gang up on Reid.
“Lance played a lot more minutes than what we expected or planned because of the two injuries but he was able to essentially let Reidy go about his business,” Longmire said.
He praised the tagging effort of Ryan Clarke on Steele Sidebottom, who had just 13 touches – half his season average and his lowest single game tally since 2013.
Sydney have dropped to 3-7, but Longmire couldn’t fault his charges.
“I still reckon we took a step forward,” he said.
‘We didn’t win tonight but we still got a lot of stuff right, we were really happy with a lot of the things that we did.
“Next week we play (ladder leader) Geelong. What a great opportunity for these young blokes to keep going.”
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Well said.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
Roos missed the finals once, 3 years later...premiership.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
Very constructive rowdy
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Hope so too, but staying the course on playing really good sides and improving will be a good result.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Shorten luvver talking.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Please no.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Maybe, but credit where it’s due to this young group? And don’t forget, plenty of poor goal kicking over the zillion years from even the best teams.........but poor kicking happens for a reason, right?
Mark
Guest
This will be the first year he’s missed finals, made 8 consecutive before that. Cute dig, though.
WayneS
Roar Rookie
I am still wondering why encroaching the mark after the kick has been executed is a 50 metre penalty. The 50 metre penalty awarded against Rampe in the final term giving Collinwood a certain goal seemed harsh as he wasn't over the mark at the time the ball was kicked. Perhaps someone in the umpires department should also have a look at how far Callum Brown was allowed to run without penalty in the final quarter which also resulted in a goal at a crucial time.
Mick
Roar Rookie
Roar you have a thumbs up icon... how about you also put a thumbs down icon as well...
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
On listening to the game, I thought the pies were either not as good as everyone thinks or the swans are better than everyone thinks. The pies were a little lucky but good teams win the close ones. I think it might be the latter, in what is looking like the closest fought season in memory. Should be an exciting season ahead where no game is a given and premiership favouritism can vanish rapidly.
Peter Warrington
Guest
yes early on you could sense the Pies were the better team. but bad kicking is bad footy. the swans swooped in the 3rd and then had to try and hang on. with a fuller bench they might have. both teams - and coaches - will, reasonably, take away many positives from the game, given where both teams are at this year. pretty good game for the neutral, too.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pies bad goal kicking kept the swans in the game.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Brad Scott is headed to the Blues.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
He's stuck on that name
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Or not
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I'm flattered.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Rampe. The Karma Gods didn't take too long to exact revenge. How's the view from where you are on the table, Horse?
The Ghost
Guest
Giggidy giggidy
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
The Cats will be the only team around here doing the flogging.