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Swifts digest horror show as Fever lock in grand final

Swifts digest horror show as Fever lock in grand final

The Age5 days ago
The NSW Swifts have spoken of their regret over Sunday's 77-45 semi-final mauling at the hands of West Coast, conceding they suffered an 'absolute shellacking' on enemy territory.
NSW were simply no match for the minor premiers, trailing 46-20 at halftime en route to the embarrassing 32-goal loss.
Sunday's result means the second-placed Swifts will now need to lick their wounds and defeat the Melbourne Vixens in next weekend's home preliminary final to stay in the title hunt.
The Vixens secured their preliminary final spot with a 58-56 win over two-time defending champions Adelaide in the minor semi-final.
West Coast, who are on a Super Netball record 13-match winning streak, have now qualified for the August 2 grand final in Melbourne.
The Swifts made a perfect 8-0 start to the season but have lost five of their past seven games since then.
Their loss to the Fever was the worst of the lot, with star goal shooter Grace Nweke simply devoid of confidence as Fever defender Sunday Aryang ran riot with seven gains and two intercepts.
Nweke finished with just 23 goals from 28 attempts, and the star NZ shooter committed a whopping nine turnovers in a performance that resulted in her benching.
But Swifts defender Maddy Turner is urging her teammates to keep their heads high, pointing out how NSW were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title.
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Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir wants his team to be ruthless despite big derby win over West Coast
Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir wants his team to be ruthless despite big derby win over West Coast

West Australian

time3 hours ago

  • West Australian

Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir wants his team to be ruthless despite big derby win over West Coast

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his players to become more ruthless after they failed to maximise their chances to blow West Coast off the park and dramatically increase their percentage during Saturday's western derby. The Dockers dominated all aspects of the game and won by 49 points but even West Coast coach Andrew McQualter admitted the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) result flattered his team. Fremantle entered the round locked on 12 wins with GWS, Hawthorn and Geelong, but with an inferior percentage to them all. They were 7.1 per cent behind the Giants and 10.1 per cent behind the Hawks and while they improved their own percentage from 108.9 to 111.7, they face a huge challenge to catch them in the remaining games. A frustrated Longmuir said they missed the chance to win by a bigger margin after Fremantle had 14 more inside 50s, 18 more clearances and more than double the amount of scoring shots. He said the team had missed too many chances this season to put teams away. 'We kicked 18.18 and four out on the fulls. We created plenty of opportunities to kick a good score, and we kicked a good score. But if you take away a couple of goals and add a couple more, it doesn't take much and you get a bit more of a percentage boost,' Longmuir said. 'I said to the players after the game, it's been a bit of a trend for us. We held Adelaide to 38 points at three quarter time and and coughed up three or four goals out of our back half just by going to sleep in that game. It was a bit the same in the GWS game. 'If you do that across the course of the year, it adds up. We need to be a bit more ruthless in that sense. Maybe that's the next step.' Longmuir was thrilled that Hayden Young sent everyone a reminder of what he is capable of by collecting 23 disposals, seven clearances and kicking three goals to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal. Young played as the sub last week and was influential in just over one quarter of footy against Collingwood. He was subbed out of the derby when the Dockers were in control after his brilliance set up the win. 'It was a good build from last week and should set him up well for next week. I thought he was clean, I thought he found space and I thought he finished well. He was sharp,' Longmuir said. 'We've missed his ball use at times this year. He's a welcome addition. He gives us another big body around there as well which helps Andy and Caleb and the other mids. We've missed that as well. 'I thought our stoppage work went to a level it hasn't seen for a while today. I'm sure Youngy had an impact on that. Of course that excites me. 'We've got to still find the right mix in there and who complements them. There's still a bit to work through. We'll work our way through that but good players make good coaches.'

Young shows his class as wayward Dockers crush Eagles
Young shows his class as wayward Dockers crush Eagles

Perth Now

time4 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Young shows his class as wayward Dockers crush Eagles

Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash. Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last. Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push. Michael Frederick kicked a career-high four goals, Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances, while rising star Murphy Reid (23 disposals, one goal) tallied a whopping 15 score involvements. Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Caleb Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough. For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos. Reid limped off in the dying minutes and headed to the change rooms after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner. The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons. West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Then later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a dose of Harley Reid magic gave Eagles fans something to smile about. Reid received a handpass on the wing and took a running bounce before nailing a goal from 47m. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points. But goals to Jye Amiss and Voss - each of which was followed by a mini melee - gave Fremantle breathing space, before Young added another later in the quarter. Fremantle blew the margin wide open with the first four goals of the final term.

Young talent time! Returning midfielder snares derby medal
Young talent time! Returning midfielder snares derby medal

Perth Now

time5 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Young talent time! Returning midfielder snares derby medal

Hayden Young underlined his match-winning importance to Freo by snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal in his first match start in almost three months - and without even completing the game. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE JUDGES VOTED The silky left-footer finished the game with three goals from 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). He set up the Dockers' 49-point victory over West Coast in a blistering first quarter when he registered 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals. The stellard showing came in his first full game and second overall back from hamstring surgery. Young was subbed out of the clash early in the fourth quarter with the game in hand as the Dockers continue to manage his workload. 'I'm just building into it so I was managed today. Came off a little bit to help the legs, but I am feeling really good,' Young told Fox Footy. 'The boys have helped me a lot, getting me into the game. I was a bit rusty today but it was good to get back within the group and build some momentum. 'There was some good moments, but I missed a few opportunities which I will be a bit flat about.' It also ensured his teammate Caleb Serong will have to wait until next season to try to break a tie with Paul Hasleby for the most medals in derby history. Peter Bell (ABC) - Chair 3-Hayden Young 2- Murphy Reid 1- Andy Brayshaw Jackson Barrett (The West Australian) 3- Hayden Young 2- Andrew Brayshaw 1- Murphy Reid Mark LeCras (Channel 7) 3- Andy Brayshaw 2- Hayden Young 1- Murphy Reid TOTAL 8- Hayden Young 6 - Andy Brayshaw 4 - Murphy Reid

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