Perfection isn't enough. The Swans need a miracle to make the finals
It was a miracle play - and for the Swans to have any chance of sneaking into the top eight, they need a few more of those. Quite a few, actually.
The Swans sit 10th on the ladder with an 8-9 win-loss record, adrift of the finals by 12 points (or three wins) and burdened by a hefty percentage deficit. They've got six games to go: North Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, then GWS Giants (away), Essendon (home), Brisbane Lions (away), Geelong (home) and West Coast (away).
The good news is they're all winnable. Yes, even the round 22 trip to the Gabba to face the reigning premiers and the home clash with the Cats the following week.
Though they are wrecked by injury and down on confidence, there are the flashes of brilliance from the Swans that serve as reminders that, not that long ago, they were considered one of the AFL's most fearsome teams. It's still in them, somewhere, buried under a pile of hurt. And statistically, they have one of the easiest runs home.
So they're still a chance … in the Dumb & Dumber sense, sure, but it's something to hold onto.
The bad news is that even if they were perfect for the rest of the season, and managed to string together a six-game winning streak to round out the home-and-away campaign - a fair ask considering that this year, they haven't managed to put more than two consecutive wins together - it still mightn't be enough.
Of the teams they could hope to leapfrog, they only face one of them, the Giants, in a bona fide eight-pointer in next weekend's derby at Engie Stadium. Assuming the Swans take care of business against lowly North Melbourne first, that game could not only put wind in their own sails but leave a fair dent in GWS' ambitions, too.
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Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘You should apologise': AFL legend, journo in heated clash
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has demanded an apology after his comments were called 'sexist' during a heated TV exchange on Monday night. The Saints champion and veteran football reporter Caroline Wilson exchanged verbal barbs on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters as the panel discussed North Melbourne's abysmal 101-point defeat to Geelong on Saturday. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Wilson said it was now up to North Melbourne president Sonja Hood and chief executive Jennifer Watt to come out and address the club's woes in public. Wilson said it was also up to Hood to scrutinise the club's football department and coach Alastair Clarkson. Riewoldt said Clarkson would not be happy if Hood decided to question the four-time premiership coach's operations, despite the club enduring another disastrous season where they sit 17th on the ladder with just four wins this season. Nick Riewoldt gave Caroline Wilson both barrels. Photo: Channel 7. Hood was on a public relations drive and was full of praise for Clarkson when he was appointed coach of the Kangaroos on a five-year deal that reportedly made him the highest paid coach in the sport. Riewoldt described Hood's behaviour at the time 'sycophantic' with Wilson taking umbrage to the term. 'That is bordering on sexism,' she said. 'If a male president had lauded getting a premiership coach … you wouldn't call it sycophantic. I bet you wouldn't.' Riewoldt responded: 'What are you talking about … I resent the fact you think that's a sexist comment. That is a ridiculous thing to say. 'How is someone being sycophantic got anything to do with their gender? 'That's ridiculous and you should apologise. 'It's not sexist Caroline.' Wilson said she was not going to 'cop' Riewoldt's comment. Nick Riewoldt and Caroline at three paces. Photo: Channel 7. 'You're making ridiculous statements like that. You're wrong to say she was sycophantic,' she said. 'You should apologise to her Nick for calling her sycophantic. That's ridiculous.' The tension seemed to have simmered when the show returned from an ad-break. Wilson last week made plenty of headlines when she put Channel 7 host Craig Hutchison on the spot asking him not to fire her on air. The pre-planned segment, which Hutchison clearly did not know was going to happen, related to the media mogul's awkward appearance on radio network RSN last week after he announced a raft of sackings at the station. Earlier this month, the TV host's SEN group purchased RSN in a $3.25 million deal and immediately set about cutting costs, including giving popular hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate the flick. Many long-time listeners of the station only learned the news when Hutchison fronted Felgate's Racing Pulse show last Thursday. So Wilson took the opportunity to make a cheeky plea over her own future on the Channel 7 show. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Set up by Riewoldt in a section called The Spill, the former St Kilda captain put the vague question to Wilson: 'The hour on air of the Agenda Setters is the highest risk of all.' The long-time Age reporter replied: 'Well, certainly if you're on air with Craig Hutchison. 'This is no respect, disrespect I should say, to Michael Felgate or Daniel Harford for that matter. 'But if you're going to remove me from the show, can you please not do it with me on-air?' Wilson delivered the jab with a straight face and Hutchison did not take it well. 'This is not something to joke about,' he shot back. There was plenty of drama elsewhere on Monday night with Channel 9's Footy Classified showing previously unseen footage of Giants captain Toby Greene appearing to kick Swans defender Dane Rampe in the groin region. The new vision shows Greene lashing out, kicking directly behind him between Rampe's legs during a heated confrontation before the start of the game. Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd, on Monday night, told the AFL and new general manager of football performance Greg Swann the league needs to come out and make a public statement about Greene's uncovered act. Originally published as 'You should apologise': AFL legend, journo in heated clash
The Australian
9 hours ago
- The Australian
Warwick Farm tips, inside mail for Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Form expert Adam Sherry analyses the seven-race card at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, presenting his best bets, quaddie picks and inside mail. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ WARWICK FARM TIPS BEST BET Race 4 No.5 TAZIMA: Nice fourth at his Australian debut. Extra trip suits. NEXT BEST Race 6 No.1 CASSIEL: Runner-up in Saturday grade last start. Can bounce back. VALUE BET Race 3 No.7 AROHA STONE: Back in grade and distance. Very unlucky here two runs back. QUADDIE Race 4: 5, 9 Race 5: 1, 8, 10 Race 6: 1, 5, 6 Race 7: 5, 10, 13 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW James McDonald is back in town and can take out the TAB Jockey Challenge. LAY OF THE DAY Race 2 No.6 THE STARS: Drawn wide in an open race. A worthy risk at anything less than $4. WARWICK FARM INSIDE MAIL RACE 1: 2&3yo Maiden Handicap (1600m) INDIGO STAR (2) was no match for Stardeel but worked home okay for second over 1100m first-up on the Kensington. Raced three-wide without cover when third to Invisible Magic over 1400m last start. Looks like he will appreciate the step up to the mile. RASP (6) was third at Ballarat at his first run for a new stable before a good closing third at Bendigo over 1400m. Was fourth to Broadsiding in the Fernhill at his only go at this trip. DOLLARS (8) didn't have a lot of luck when beaten as favourite at Coffs Harbour. Handy second at Newcastle last start over this trip. BET: INDIGO STAR (2) to win. RACE 2: 2&3yo Maiden Plate (1100m) DUKE ATREIDES (8), the half-brother to Best Of Bordeaux, started favourite on debut when a two-length fourth to the very promising San Giovanni who won again on the weekend. This colt will take improvement from the run and drawn to be prominent. 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RACE 4: Colts, Horses & Geldings Benchmark 72 (1600m) TAZIMA (5) settled three back on the rails before running home strongly late for a three-quarter length fourth to Sammy Conquers All over 1400m on the Kensington at his Australian debut. Won over 2011m at his second and last run in England. FIORSUM FRED (9) was very unlucky at Tamworth two starts ago when held up. He finished eighth to Rajnish but should has gone close to winning. Jumped up in grade and beaten less than three lengths behind Boys Night out in the South Grafton Cup. Drops back sharply in grade and only goes up 2kg. PINK SHALALA (4) and KAPAKIRI (2) have claims. BET: TAZIMA (5) to win. RACE 5: Benchmark 72 (2200m) NAVAL COMMISSION (1) should have run a place at the very least at Rosehill last start when held at two vital stages in the last 150m and finishing fifth behind Good Banter. Placed at his previous three runs as he was building in trip. Winner at this track and distance. 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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Greene laments seeing red in disciplinary 'slip-up'
Toby Greene thought he was past the disciplinary lapses that marred the start of his career. But now the GWS captain concedes that's not the case after a "slip-up" forearm to the back of Sydney star Isaac Heeney's head. It's led to his suspension for Thursday night's crunch clash with the Western Bulldogs. Greene's absence is a huge blow to the sixth-placed Giants (52 points) who are chasing a top-four spot, against the finals-hunting Bulldogs (ninth, 44 points). "I was just probably highly emotional and got don't argued sensationally by Isaac and then did what I did - which if I had my time back, I would love it back, but that's not possible," Greene told the Ausmerican Aces podcast. "There was a bit going both ways and and I probably let that get the better of me in terms of getting emotional and pretty wound up. "I've been guilty of it previously in my career, and it was certainly a slip-up and something I'd like to have my time back but you obviously don't. "I'd like to learn my lesson, and I thought I was almost past that, but clearly not. So, mate, a bit to work on." When asked what he made of people who would consider him a dirty player, Greene, 31, said: "It's probably fair enough". "What I did was pretty dirty, and I've done that in my career, but I mean, I don't go out there premeditating anything," he said. "It's just something I need to get better at in my game ... I've just got to worry about making sure I'm playing every weekend." Greene also avoided suspension for swinging a foot, which didn't make contact, towards the groin of Sydney defender Dane Rampe - an incident which came to light after his podcast interview. Midfielder Stephen Coniglio will captain the Giants with Greene and Josh Kelly (injury) unavailable. He noted his skipper had generally managed his aggression in recent years, with the "turning point" around five years ago when Greene's teammates made it clear they considered him a leader. "Whenever he's walked the line he's made some really good decisions in the last couple of years and it's fuelled a couple of our really good performances," Coniglio said. "And so we just need more of those decisions." Toby Greene thought he was past the disciplinary lapses that marred the start of his career. But now the GWS captain concedes that's not the case after a "slip-up" forearm to the back of Sydney star Isaac Heeney's head. It's led to his suspension for Thursday night's crunch clash with the Western Bulldogs. Greene's absence is a huge blow to the sixth-placed Giants (52 points) who are chasing a top-four spot, against the finals-hunting Bulldogs (ninth, 44 points). "I was just probably highly emotional and got don't argued sensationally by Isaac and then did what I did - which if I had my time back, I would love it back, but that's not possible," Greene told the Ausmerican Aces podcast. "There was a bit going both ways and and I probably let that get the better of me in terms of getting emotional and pretty wound up. "I've been guilty of it previously in my career, and it was certainly a slip-up and something I'd like to have my time back but you obviously don't. "I'd like to learn my lesson, and I thought I was almost past that, but clearly not. So, mate, a bit to work on." When asked what he made of people who would consider him a dirty player, Greene, 31, said: "It's probably fair enough". "What I did was pretty dirty, and I've done that in my career, but I mean, I don't go out there premeditating anything," he said. "It's just something I need to get better at in my game ... I've just got to worry about making sure I'm playing every weekend." Greene also avoided suspension for swinging a foot, which didn't make contact, towards the groin of Sydney defender Dane Rampe - an incident which came to light after his podcast interview. Midfielder Stephen Coniglio will captain the Giants with Greene and Josh Kelly (injury) unavailable. He noted his skipper had generally managed his aggression in recent years, with the "turning point" around five years ago when Greene's teammates made it clear they considered him a leader. "Whenever he's walked the line he's made some really good decisions in the last couple of years and it's fuelled a couple of our really good performances," Coniglio said. "And so we just need more of those decisions." Toby Greene thought he was past the disciplinary lapses that marred the start of his career. But now the GWS captain concedes that's not the case after a "slip-up" forearm to the back of Sydney star Isaac Heeney's head. It's led to his suspension for Thursday night's crunch clash with the Western Bulldogs. Greene's absence is a huge blow to the sixth-placed Giants (52 points) who are chasing a top-four spot, against the finals-hunting Bulldogs (ninth, 44 points). "I was just probably highly emotional and got don't argued sensationally by Isaac and then did what I did - which if I had my time back, I would love it back, but that's not possible," Greene told the Ausmerican Aces podcast. "There was a bit going both ways and and I probably let that get the better of me in terms of getting emotional and pretty wound up. "I've been guilty of it previously in my career, and it was certainly a slip-up and something I'd like to have my time back but you obviously don't. "I'd like to learn my lesson, and I thought I was almost past that, but clearly not. So, mate, a bit to work on." When asked what he made of people who would consider him a dirty player, Greene, 31, said: "It's probably fair enough". "What I did was pretty dirty, and I've done that in my career, but I mean, I don't go out there premeditating anything," he said. "It's just something I need to get better at in my game ... I've just got to worry about making sure I'm playing every weekend." Greene also avoided suspension for swinging a foot, which didn't make contact, towards the groin of Sydney defender Dane Rampe - an incident which came to light after his podcast interview. Midfielder Stephen Coniglio will captain the Giants with Greene and Josh Kelly (injury) unavailable. He noted his skipper had generally managed his aggression in recent years, with the "turning point" around five years ago when Greene's teammates made it clear they considered him a leader. "Whenever he's walked the line he's made some really good decisions in the last couple of years and it's fuelled a couple of our really good performances," Coniglio said. "And so we just need more of those decisions."
