Latest news with #AFLFreoSwans
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bice settling seamlessly into AFL career with Swans
Riley Bice has been christened "Nick Blakey 2.0" as the Sydney mature-age recruit settles seamlessly into the AFL. The 24-year-old starred across half-back in last weekend's convincing win over North Melbourne and will demand attention from Collingwood in the Gather Round clash on Friday night at Adelaide Oval. It was Bice's third senior game after Sydney recruited him with pick No.41 in last year's national draft. Riley Bice kicks his first AFL goal at an important time for the Swans 🦢#AFLFreoSwans — AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2025 He caught the attention of Sydney's recruiters after joining VFL team Werribee last year from Albury in northern Victoria. Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy compared him to Blakey, one of the league's best defenders and a first-time All-Australian last year. "He has been fantastic, Swans fans would be really buoyed seeing what he is doing," Grundy said of Bice at Thursday training. "In pre-season he showed elements but to able to see it at AFL level, three games in is so damaging. "It's like Nick Blakey 2.0, which is incredible. To be able to have that calibre come into our team, it's a shout-out to our recruiting staff. "He is a real talent offensively, but defensively he is playing his role and shutting down good offensive players as well." Bice might not have been given his chance so early in the season without Sydney's extensive injury list. In a possible sign that the tide is starting to turn, they made no changes for Friday night. Instead it is Collingwood who have lost Jordan De Goey and Lachie Schultz to injuries, while Dan Houston is suspended. Will Hoskin-Elliott, Ed Allan and Lachie Sullivan will take their places. "I suppose from an injury perspective we haven't spent too much time commenting on 'gee we're lacking Errol (Gulden) or we're lacking Justin (McInerney)'," Grundy said. "We've had a really strong squad mentality and Coxy (coach Dean Cox) and the leadership group are doing a great job of just galvanising the team."
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Heartbroken Dockers aim to bounce back in western derby
Fremantle defender Jordan Clark says he was left heartbroken by the three-point loss to Sydney, but is adamant the players are remaining "positive as hell" as they bid to recover from a 0-2 start. The Dockers' knack of losing close games in 2024 reared again on Sunday when Sydney kicked the final two goals of the match to snatch a thrilling win at Optus Stadium. Fremantle made a series of key mistakes in the last five minutes, leaving the players shattered after the match. Despite the loss, it was a vastly-improved showing from the 78-point defeat to Geelong a week earlier, but Clark said it was still a result that cut deep and left him feeling "pretty damaged". Amartey puts the Swans in front with 90 seconds left!📺 Watch #AFLFreoSwans LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: BLOG MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 23, 2025 "To be over them all day and to lose like that, it's pretty heartbreaking," Clark said. "There were just little things that let us down. "Defending the lead, we want to try and keep the ball skinny. You want to be able to defend behind it. "Kicks into the middle of the ground that get turned over - you can't defend behind those and they scored twice from it, so we let ourselves down in that area." "But as much as it is heartbreaking, it's very promising we were able to compete with them as long as we did." Fremantle entered the season full of confidence they could snare a top-four berth and challenge for the flag. Belief in the player group remains high despite the 0-2 start, but a win against arch rivals West Coast in Sunday's western derby is simply a must. "Positive as hell," Clark replied when asked about the optimism within the group. "I think there's enough proof in the pudding to say you don't have to win the first five games to play finals. "There's a lot to work on, and it's a long season. So it's a game of momentum. "It doesn't matter if you lose the first two - it doesn't mean you can't make finals. "That one (loss to Sydney) stings, but we're a pretty positive group. We'll bounce on from that." West Coast copped an 87-point hammering from Gold Coast in their season opener, but they almost toppled defending premiers Brisbane at the Gabba last week before running out of steam on the way to a 19-point loss. Key Eagles duo Jake Waterman (calf) and Jack Graham (hip) are a chance to return for Sunday's derby, while Fremantle will be without Brandon Walker (dislocated shoulder). "They're a much improved team," Clark said of the Eagles. "They've added some really nice players to their list. "Derbies are always massive. It doesn't matter where you are on the ladder or how many wins you've got, it's always a hot and contested game."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Amartey bobs up late as Swans sink Dockers in thriller
Chad Warner has put on a star display and Joel Amartey kicked the match winner with less than 90 seconds remaining as Sydney pulled off a stunning three-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium. The Dockers led by 22 points at quarter-time and were still clinging to a slender lead as the clock wound down in Sunday's match in front of 43,882 fans. Amartey gave Sydney the lead when he out-muscled Brennan Cox in a marking contest before calmly slotting the 20m set shot with 86 seconds remaining. In a frantic finish, Fremantle surged forward for one final attack with just seconds remaining. A long kick into attack was marked by Dockers forward Jye Amiss, but the siren had sounded just a second earlier, giving Sydney the 9.14 (68) to 9.11 (65) win. The result marked Dean Cox's maiden AFL win as Sydney coach and ensured the Swans avoided slipping to a 0-3 record heading into their bye week. Warner, who is being hotly pursued by Fremantle and West Coast, finished with 26 disposals and 10 inside-50s. Sydney tagger James Jordon (24 disposals, 10 clearances) nullified the influence of Caleb Serong (19 disposals, five clearances, one goal) in a critical shut-down role. Jaeger O'Meara (32 possessions) and Nathan O'Driscoll (25) racked up big numbers for Fremantle, while Josh Treacy kicked four goals. Star Dockers recruit Shai Bolton looked rusty on the way to 15 disposals and four clearances. Fremantle defender Brandon Walker was subbed off in the second quarter with a left shoulder injury. The Dockers and the Eagles are 0-2 heading into next Sunday's western derby. In a pressure-filled opening quarter, Fremantle made the most of their chances by kicking four goals to nil to take a 22-point lead into the first break. Treacy kicked the first two goals of the match, and fellow bigs Luke Jackson and Patrick Voss also hit the scoreboard as Fremantle flexed their muscle. Riley Bice kicks his first AFL goal at an important time for the Swans 🦢#AFLFreoSwans — AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2025 Sydney failed to capitalise on a 10-5 advantage at the stoppages on the way to spraying 0.5 for the term. But they fared much better in the second quarter with three goals. A bit of midfield magic from Warner allowed Peter Ladhams to kick Sydney's first goal of the match. And when Warner snared a goal himself later in the term, the margin was just four points as the boos rang around Optus Stadium. Serong was largely nullified by Jordon in the opening half but managed to pop up for a goal to give Fremantle a nine-point buffer at half-time. Sydney's stoppage dominance meant Fremantle were forced to defend for prolonged periods in the third quarter. The Swans hit the lead late in the term, but Bailey Banfield's tough set shot from near the boundary gave Fremantle a two-point edge at the final change. Sydney surprisingly subbed off ruckman Brodie Grundy 11 minutes into the final term, and Amartey limped off just minutes later with a corked leg. Amiss scored the first goal of the last term at the 14-minute mark, but mature-age recruit Riley Bice replied a short time later with his maiden AFL goal. Amartey came back on the field and popped up for the match winner.
