Sydney Swans
62
Match Complete
Adelaide Crows
88
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| Rushed |  | 23:07 | ||
| L. Franklin | | 22:04 | ||
| Rushed | | 20:29 | ||
| 19:53 | | S. Jacobs | ||
| 14:56 |  | D. Mackay | ||
| 11:10 | | R. Knight | ||
| Rushed | | 9:27 | ||
| L. Franklin | | 7:34 | ||
| 2:37 | | J. Jenkins | ||
| W. Hayward | | 1:26 | ||
| 6.10 (46) | Third Quarter [+] | 9.15 (69) | ||
| 28:54 | | E. Betts | ||
| 27:05 | | T. Lynch | ||
| 25:23 | | T. Walker | ||
| T. Papley | | 21:36 | ||
| 18:07 | | C. Jones | ||
| B. Ronke | | 15:43 | ||
| L. Franklin | | 12:13 | ||
| 10:34 | | R. Knight | ||
| 7:51 | | C. Jones | ||
| 7:21 | | Rushed | ||
| J. P. Kennedy | | 6:52 | ||
| 1:07 | | R. Atkins | ||
| 6.6 (42) | Second Quarter [+] | 6.10 (46) | ||
| L. Franklin | | 29:01 | ||
| L. Franklin | | 25:08 | ||
| 21:53 | | B. Crouch | ||
| W. Hayward | | 19:04 | ||
| L. Franklin | | 16:45 | ||
| 15:34 | | T. Lynch | ||
| 13:02 | | T. Walker | ||
| 12:38 | | Rushed | ||
| S. Reid | | 11:27 | ||
| 9:39 | | T. Walker | ||
| 6:37 | | R. Knight | ||
| 4:16 | | B. Smith | ||
| L. Parker | | 3:26 | ||
| J. P. Kennedy | | 2:57 | ||
| D. Rampe | | 2:11 | ||
| N. Blakey | | 0:41 | ||
| 1.2 (8) | First Quarter [+] | 4.5 (29) | ||
| 29:27 | | P. Seedsman | ||
| 28:38 | | R. Atkins | ||
| 26:47 | | P. Seedsman | ||
| 24:11 | | J. Jenkins | ||
| T. Papley | | 22:59 | ||
| 20:58 | | E. Betts | ||
| 17:52 | | T. Walker | ||
| 15:55 | | D. Mackay | ||
| 13:19 | | C. Jones | ||
| 9:17 | | R. Sloane | ||
| B. Ronke | | 4:53 | ||
| I. Heeney | | 3:21 | ||
The Sydney Swans host the Adelaide Crows in an important Round 2 clash at the SCG on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Already this appears to be a season-defining clash, given the terrible record for teams making finals from a zero and two start.
Both clubs suffered upset losses in the opening round of the season, with the Swans producing a terrible performance against the Bulldogs, while Adelaide was simply outgunned in the coaching box by a genius.
The expected scores in Sydney’s game were ugly – they implied that the Swans should’ve lost heavily and were, in fact, lucky to get close in the final quarter.
Lance Franklin was heavily underdone, while Reid, Blakey and Hayward were okay at times but are hardly going to win games of football.
Isaac Heeney looms as Sydney’s most important player this season given his ability to play forward, but his presence in the midfield seems just as vital.
The Swans were beaten in the clearances 41-32, and as has been established through the season and in the first round of the year, this statistic appears to be more important than ever.
Kennedy and Parker appear to be lone rangers in the centre for Sydney, with a heavy reliance on Callum Sinclair’s follow-up work seemingly a key to their game plan.
It is important for John Longmire to understand the necessity for strong inside midfielders to be unleashed as attacking-minded threats in the centre, as we saw from Adelaide in their loss.
The Crows were beaten by a team with a better coach, who was able to set up so well defensively to produce an easy victory from a poor clearance result – a likely outlier in the early stages of the season.
The Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane combined for 21 clearances and more importantly, were very much looking to get the ball moving forward when in contested situations.
While it didn’t end up in a positive overall result for the club, there was a still a sense of danger produced from Adelaide’s midfield.
Walker and Jenkins were awful, which accounted for the loss.
The key forwards combined for one point and were simply unable to get into the game thanks to Hawthorn’s defensive structure.
Adelaide wasn’t able to maximise the space 6-6-6 can provide, but given the strength through the midfield, it won’t take much tweaking for the forward line to work more efficiently.
Given both defences tend to be structured quite well, and featured some of the better one-on-one players in the competition, it’s easy to understand why this will be a battle of the midfield and forward line.
Prediction
Sydney needs to back in George Hewett and Jordan Dawson into the midfield more often on Saturday night to prevent the potential dominance of Adelaide.
Both are big bodies that can help Kennedy and Parker in neutralising contests at the very least, and maximising Dawson’s long kicking would be a smart move.
It’s also hard to imagine Buddy Franklin having recovered much since last week, where he ended up being a liability for the Swans. Adelaide, despite having Doedee missing, will feast any slowness from Sydney’s key forwards.
The Crows have their own issues, but less rushed clearances and more damaging entries into the attacking 50 will be enough on the night.
It’s looking like one of these sides is on the up in 2019 despite a slow start, while the other is headed for disappointment. It’s time to start following the Crows.
Adelaide by 26 points.
anon
Roar Pro
To think that Tom Mitchell was surplus to their requirements at Sydney. He dominated the moment he played his first game for the Hawks. I thought Longmire was a decent coach for a long time, but there's been no evolution in his style or tactics. In fact, he's probably regressed as a coach.
anon
Roar Pro
Franklin has been great up until this point. Would you sign him up for $3.5 million for 4 years at this minute? No way. You'd be mad. That's about what Fyfe and Dangerfield are on.
Mark
Guest
Papley, Ronke, Hayward.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Yawn. Be happy.
Davo
Guest
Not True. Franklin has been great for the swans. Sydney people who once couldn’t give a stuff about AFL talk about Franklin and he has in turn made AFL more popular in NSW. Higher membership, higher tv ratings and more juniors. Been a great move and in the scheme of things his contract per year doesn’t seem so big when you compare what some of the stars are being offered now.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Too true anon and they have another 4 years of him ! A wonderful legacy of their previous salary cap "extra allowance". If they dont win a premiership with Franklin (and Tippet) in the team, I'll be a happy man !
IAP
Guest
The worst thing for Sydney is that they’re even more reliant on him than they’ve ever been, but he’s a shadow of the player he used to be. Do they even have any small forwards? They’re recruiting needs to be questioned; one man forward line, old and slow midfield with no good kids coming through. Bottling up the game is the only chance they’ve got.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Carlton would have been better value tbh
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Players that make it look easy when at full flight cop the most criticism.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Swannies in trouble. They rebounded from 0-6 before but don't have the cattle this time.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
What a godawful game of football! The skill levels from both teams deplorable. I know it's early in the season, but some really basic skills errors. Old mate kicking into the guy on mark after the 100 metres just the icing. Long season ahead for Sydney! New ideas required! Their game style aint going to cut it now. Buddy tried hard as usual, Allir continues to develop as a genuine defender. Adelaide, The Big Texan is so frustrating. At times looks like he's going to rip game a new one...... but then goes missing. WOuld be frustrating to coach. Sloane on other hand just cracks in all the time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Out at the game tonight. Good atmosphere, but jee it's pretty clear the Swans were woeful in their execution of the simple stuff. If the Crows could kick straight, that would have been all but over at halftime.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Nothing in the rules says it has to be an even free kick count at the end of the game.
Powa
Roar Rookie
I think Sydney are going to have their first bad year in a long time
anon
Roar Pro
Swans not only a bog ordinary team but play an unwatchable style of footy. Drag other teams down to their level all the time. I was wrong about Richmond last night, but right about Adelaide tonight. Franklin's just not serious about AFL footy. 4 years left on his contract with around $3.5 million to pay. The worst contract in the AFL right now. Not Franklin's fault. He's played great, but the injuries, niggles and lack of preseasons is starting to take its toll. Sydney got it wrong. They could have a prime Josh Kelly running around in the midfield for the coin they are paying Franklin.
Sammy
Guest
They look like they are in first gear and can't quite get out. If tgey can clean up their ball handling and get it cleaner to the forwards they will become far more dangerous than they look now
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Dumb duck. If that was right then no coach would ever complain about having consecutive six day breaks. And what's with the Pies having two extra days and home ground advantage against West Coast?
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
Thank you all for joining me tonight, hopefully all your teams win on the weekend! (unless they're playing each other, in which case it's unlikely they both get up)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Just for you!
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
FULL TIME - Sydney 62-88 Adelaide The Crows went to Sydney and conquered, running away 26-point victors in a sloppy Friday night contest. The game never reached any great heights given the slippery conditions, but Adelaide was clearly the better team on the night and capitalised on that in the final 35 minutes of the game. Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch were the two key players for the Crows, both continuing their stellar starts to the season. Crouch in particular looked hungry for the contest and classy on the outside, with injury having ruined the past couple of seasons for him. Perhaps most encouraging was the limited impact by Matt Crouch and Rory Laird in the final result, with both players having quiet matches. Crouch finished with 24 disposals, while Laird had just 21 disposals and never worked his way into the game. It was the same old story for the Swans, with Kennedy (36 disposals, 10 clearances) and Lloyd (34 disposals) trying their hardest, however they were toothless in attack when Lance Franklin couldn't get near the ball. The 32-year-old has struggled with fitness over the preseason and it has been evident in the opening fortnight of 2019, relying on the ball to get to him, rather than his attack on it. Sydney starts this season with two consecutive losses and head into a Round 3 clash against Carlton with everything to lose - another poor result will ruin their season before it truly begins. The Crows host Geelong in an enthralling encounter on Thursday night, where Patrick Dangerfield will once again return to his old home.