From the very first bounce, Sydney were never given the chance to feel anywhere near close to in the grand final. The Swans were quite overmatched on the day by the undoubtedly best team of 2022, Geelong.
The Swans were at least within dreaming distance at half-time with a 36 point deficit, when the Cats decided to turn the burners on and really put the game to bed with a six-goal third quarter to make it a true blowout.
Sydney was completely and utterly dismantled in every single facet of this game and almost every man was beaten by their direct opponent quite handily; and it shows in their ratings.
Nick Blakey – 4
Had a nervous first kick of the final, resulting in an out of character out of bounds on the full free kick. Got better, but for a player the Swans really rely on to provide speed and rebound from defensive 50 he couldn’t do much of that at all today.
Braeden Campbell – 4
Activated as the medical substitute just after half time for Sam Reid who never looked right, and he had just as little impact on the game as the man he replaced. Just didn’t get much opportunity to do anything worthwhile in the game as the Cats had already taken it away by the time he entered the contest.
Ryan Clarke – 5
One of the better performers for the Swans today. Was given the Tom Stewart match-up and did a great job in limiting his influence, keeping him restricted to just the 16 disposals and 277 metres gained off half-back.
Oliver Florent – 3
Another of the Sydney players that just did not match their usual performance level today. Kept pretty quiet overall and had no influence, was caught unawares several times, and made some poor decisions leading to five turnovers and two free kicks against.
Lance Franklin – 2
A completely out of character day for Buddy, and the second final this year where he was completely outplayed. Didn’t get much access to the ball coming into forward 50, but when it did, he was easily defended by Jack Henry; and he gave away an unnecessary 50m penalty when the game was still up for grabs. Missing his usual energy, physicality, and willingness to come up high and be a linking half-forward for a team that couldn’t move the ball past the wings for the most part – very unusual.
Robbie Fox – 7
One of the two best on ground for the Swans, Kept Jeremy Cameron to no goals in the first three quarters and was doing as much as he could to provide dash and speed to transition the ball from defensive 50. Had a nice personal highlight when he closed down a strong Cameron lead and then followed up with pressure acts at ground level.
Errol Gulden – 3
A player that normally provides a great link for the Swans in their efforts to move the ball was just nowhere to be found for the most part, and unable to use the ball as cleanly as he normally does due to the Cats’ pressure.
Will Hayward – 5
Kicked a beautiful goal making use of his crumbing skill to give the Swans their first – and what would turn out to be their only score of the first quarter. Didn’t get any more chances after that, though, due to how well controlled the Cats had the ball and the game in general.
Isaac Heeney – 6
Had zero touches in the first quarter, thought he built more into the game from the second quarter onwards. Showed flashes of his normal skill and quality – kicked a goal, threw himself into tackles and contests around the ground trying to get his team to lift, but ultimately found no response.
Tom Hickey – 2
Just thoroughly worked over by the multiple ruckmen Geelong had rotating through. Couldn’t help get the ball to ground in contests on the wing. And he committed the cardinal sin of being bodied out of the contest and getting a goal kicked against him from a throw-in… twice.
Jake Lloyd – 5
He held up as best as you could expect in a defence that was being beset by inside 50 entries with next to no pressure on the kicker. Tried his best to use the ball from defensive 50 to get the team transitioning, but there was just not enough help ahead of the ball to aid him.
Paddy McCartin – 4
Another one of the Swans who were completely not allowed to play their normal game. Wasn’t able to provide intercept marking and be a presence coming off his own opponent to help in marking contests, due to the way the Cats were able to pick off targets inside 50 almost at leisure. Got a goal late in the game after being moved forward – a true consolation prize.
Tom McCartin and Paddy McCartin of the Swans look dejected after losing the grand final. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Tom McCartin – 3
A bit of a harsh game for him. Did a great job early on Tom Hawkins, stopping him from getting free on leads for marks inside 50 or up the ground, but Hawkins started to get a hold of him in the second quarter. He then committed two huge mistakes that resulted directly in goals that began the Cats’ third-term burst.
Justin McInerney – 5
Another one of the Sydney players that was a null factor in this game. His biggest personal win is that he didn’t commit any big mistakes when this game was still even slightly up for grabs.
Hayden McLean – 5
Did his best to help Hickey in the ruck a couple of times, to no real effect. But he did take a good pack mark and convert a close-range set shot to give the Swans one of their rare highlights, to somewhat justify his surprise selection over the incumbent Logan McDonald.
Callum Mills – 4
Kicked a great goal from 50 to try and ignite his side in the second term. Did his best to try and help his defence by playing as a spare from partway through the first quarter, before getting moved back on ball. Only had the 13 touches though; like many of his Swans compatriots, wasn’t quite at his best, and well below the All-Australian level he displayed throughout the year.
Tom Papley – 5
Like Franklin, it is just hard to be the electric player he normally is when there’s no supply into the forward 50. However, he did work up the ground quite a bit to try and get the ball out of defensive 50 and to provide numbers for contests between the arcs.
Luke Parker – 6
Probably rounds out the Swans’ better performers. Kept throwing himself into contests and will his team into finding their normal selves, an effort all for nought in the end as the Cats were just too good. Still managed to get himself 23 disposals personally.
Dane Rampe – 3
Thoroughly outplayed by Tyson Stengle. Never looked comfortable, due to Stengle’s ability to be clean with the ball and break away with speed. As one of the leaders, if not the leader, of the Sydney defence, also did not manage to get his backline sorted and playing like their normal selves.
Sam Reid – 1
Never looked even close to being match fit from the first bounce. Couldn’t hold his ground in marking contest or cover the ground with any fluidity. Probably should’ve done the team thing and taken himself out of consideration for selection.
James Rowbottom – 5
Started the game with a great effort to smother a kick from Tyson Stengle. Kept that effort level up even in the dying stages.
Dylan Stephens – 4
Yet another Swan who had next to no influence. Kept his effort level high, but just wasn’t physical enough; plus, had an opportunity to goal that he squandered.
Chad Warner – 8
Best on ground for the Swans, with almost no contest. Worked up and down the ground trying to help break lines, change angles, and put speed on the ball. Showed his normal ability to win contests and provide pressure as well, which is saying quite a lot given nearly none of his teammates looked capable of standing up to the Cats. Kicked two goals as well to make the scoreline look a bit kinder.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Yes, 193cm (6’4) is too small to be a key defender on the big power forwards these days. Amartey only has to bring the ball to ground where the smaller, running players will clean up the loose balls. He’s definitely worth a try because he’s not doing enough damage when playing forward, which is much harder than playing defence. Look at how The Lizard flourished this year when sent to half back. Gould will replace Rampe as the third “tall” if he’s good enough, which no-one knows because he hasn’t even played one senior game in 3 seasons. But the Club signed him again for 2023 so they obviously have plans for him. He certainly looked good in his pre AFL games with dash and long kicking from defence. Only by playing games will tell if he’s up to it or not. The Bloods need to get bigger, taller and stronger, regardless …
Chris M
Guest
I agree with you that Joel Amartey (197cm/100kg) would be worth trialing as a key defender in the VFL. He is mobile and can mark, but does he have a calm enough temperament with the ability to make quick decisions and is he skilled enough by foot to hit targets coming out of defence without creating turnovers? The Swans seem to be chasing Aaron Francis (193cm/92kg) and were chasing Griffin Logue (193cm/95kg). Am I right in saying these players seem too small to defend against the new breed of key forwards around 200cm? Lewis Melican (194cm/100kg) often has frequent soft tissue injuries and is a similar size to Paddy McCartin (195cm/95kg) and Tom McCartin (193cm/97kg). Will Gould (191cm/97kg) is a little too short to be anything other than a third tall defender.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Yes, they should have left the decision of re-signing Buddy until after the GF. Logan McDonald needs to play every week in 2023, and perhaps Buddy not play every week. I’d give him a run on the wing ala Richo towards the end where he almost won a Brownlow. Buddy’s sublime field kicking would create goals that he doesn’t have to kick himself, and he wouldn’t be constantly scragged on a wing. It would really bring the other forwards into the game. Will Gould needs to take Dane Rampe’s spot over the 2023 season (if he’s good enough?) which will be great Club servant Rampe’s last. He’s lost a yard of pace and his kicking was very average this season too. I would consider trading Jake Lloyd who at 29 was horribly out of sorts all season now that The Lizard and Ollie Florent have emerged as playmakers off half-back. He’s been an excellent link player for a long time, but is another Swan who is small, not quick and has no physical presence when things get tough or the ball is in the air. Braeden Campbell should take his spot in the back pocket or on a wing and given a good run at it with his pace and precision kicking. Joel Amartey should be trialled down back as an athletic key defender. He has all the tools but just hasn’t been given enough opportunities. I think he can be the big spoiling defender we need. Tom McCartin, as brave as he is, just isn’t big enough for monsters like Hawkins, Lynch and Dixon. Gus Sheldrick will get more game time in 2023, but the Bloods need to start recruiting bigger, taller players, 190cm+. A hybrid 193cm+ running player would be ideal. Chad Warner, Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey will make even bigger leaps in 2023, and Justin McInerney also has plenty of scope for improvement. Bloods to be up there again, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Clarke and Stephens aren’t physical enough …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Heeney ~6 ?? He was never in the game. In fact, he had a very poor finals series. Think getting AA went to his head. McLean ~ 5 ?? Rowbottom went hard all day and scored the same as McLean who took one flukey mark for one goal, is as slow as a wet week and should be traded. You were watching a different game to me, and I'm Blood through and through ...
Handles
Roar Guru
Tom Hickey was such a disappointment. He had been playing like an angry Dean Cox for the last 6 weeks, and when the rubber hit the road, he went back to playing like.... Tom Hickey.
penguin
Roar Rookie
100% correct Cat. Geelong were well prepared and their pressure caused the same doubt in Sydney's heads that Collingwood caused the week before. Everything worked for the Cats, particularly their centre clearance goals after Sydney responded. Swans deflated like a souffle and were quite horrible. Fox and Warner deserve mentions for their fight, but rest were shell shocked, rabbits in the headlight stuff. Great coaching by Scott and his team, and great execution by the Cats. Superb win, but unfortunately a forgettable GF for most neutrals, as all blowouts are. And even as a diehard Swans supporter, I have real doubts that they can replicate this year again. Probably bottom of the eight next year, sadly, as there are some really good teams coming up. We will see.
Matthew Johnson
Guest
Swans very disappointing out coach out played but I enjoyed it Go Cats! Should have just given the trophy from the start like when we pumped Port, highest winning margin in a Grand Final, don’t worry swans on the list now ????
sheek
Roar Guru
Christo the Daddyo, I asked my sister, whose partner is the uncle of an ex-player WA legend now one of the Swans' assistant coaches, if the Swans had run out of puff against the Magpies & would have nothing left in the tank for the GF? They went down to Melbourne for the GF so I guess she was too busy to find out. Nevertheless, I will be waiting with interest to hear what her partner's nephew has to say about the limp effort in the final. The Swans were the hot favourites against the Bulldogs back in 2016, & tanked that day as well. I wonder if John Longmire is too soft in getting his players pumped for finals footy? He's fantastic as a home & away seasonal coach, but the finals need an extra gee-up. Players should not be allowed to feel relaxed at finals time. They should be on edge & frightened of failure. That's bound to produce the extra desperation.
Chris M
Guest
At least Dame Rampe's speech won the oratory premiership, I think
Davico
Roar Pro
Congrats to the Cats. They were the best team all season. Whilst full credit goes to the Cats and you can only play as well as the opposition let’s you, it really did feel like apart from 1 or 2 blokes, the Swans just did not show up on the day. I guess the last qtr last week should have had the alarm bells ringing, but it is hard to comprehend just how big the gap was yesterday. The cats prob should have won by over 100. It is a young squad and I am sure they will learn from it and at the end of the day, am proud of the way they played this year. Hard to take but I am sure they will be back. Again, well done to the Cats. Great performance.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Go West Perth!
Cat
Roar Guru
Too simplistic? In a way but i also think Geelong will have watched that game closely and saw how rattled the Pies pressure made Sydney. Geelong brought it from the opening bounce. Sydney never had a chance to settle. Even in the second when Sydney stemmed the bleeding for a bit, every time they managed a hard worked goal, Geelong went bang and answered right back with an immediate goal. Geelong never gave Sydney any chance to get any run or fluidity in their game.
Chris M
Guest
Is it too simple to say that the Swans carried their fourth quarter form against Collingwood into the Grand Final? The questionable selection of Sam Reid to play injured could have been the reason for a loss if the game had been close and the Swans had been up for the fight, but they were not. One young Swans player interviewed during the week said something along the lines of that, win or lose, it was an achievement to get there (to the grand final). I wondered whether the players would be up for the game if there was already satisfaction for what had already been achieved. https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/video/1225036/mcinerney-we-love-playing-for-each-other?videoId=1225036&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1663573203001 The Swans will have a harder draw next year after finishing top 4. It is hard to win premierships back-to-back and even harder for the runners-up to play in grand finals back-to-back, especially after an annihilation. I think the Swans will need to fill some holes and find two post-Buddy quality key forwards, a key defender who can take the monsters and some midfielders who can provide centre clearance ascendancy. It looks like the next opportunity to play in a grand final will be after the Buddy era, and until the Swans improve the deficiencies in their list, perhaps still further off than many think.
Chufortah
Guest
It’s ok Swannies - this group will be back, and you have to lose one to win one. Can’t wait for the future and what it holds - Cats were immense and deserved winners of the Flag for 2022, and Swans saved the worst game in two seasons for the big one haha . I dare say - we’re better off without Buddy he should retire gracefully now, thanks legend for a great career. Not his fault, I just think Buddy creates an imbalance. Great season Swannies.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
Most of the Swans supporters that I spoke to before the game thought that (i) the best they could hope for was an honourable 4 to 5 goal loss, and (ii) the Sam Reid selection was a big risk. My own thought was that they'd find it impossible to contain the Cat's forwards.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Spot on Birdy. The 2014 ambush by your lot. The 2016 debacle, old Johnny needed to send a message.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Yes, looks like it. And if that game had gone on a minute longer they probably would have lost that game too…
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Coaches provides the tactical guidance. If players need a coach to give them motivation they don’t belong in professional football.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Respectfully, why bother with having a game day coach if we are going to leave it up to the players to sort it out because they are over the age of consent.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
The players are adults - surely that responsibility lies with them?