Latest news with #AFLSwansPower
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Struggling footy coach is blasted for setting a poor example for his players as shock vision emerges
It's been a torrid start to the 2025 season for new Sydney Swans boss Dean Cox. After agonisingly missing out on winning last year's AFL Grand Final, the Swans appear to be struggling to get back to their best, having gone 2-3 at the start of the new campaign. The Bloods' woes were further compounded on Sunday while they suffered their second defeat on the bounce - a disappointing 10.17 (77) - 13.7 (85) defeat by Port Adelaide - which saw Cox's side slump to 14th in the AFL ladder. After taking over from John Longmire last season, Cox is already finding himself under some scrutiny, despite the ex-West Coast man being a very popular figure among many in the AFL. Their performance on Sunday was underwhelming. The Swans were outgunned by the Power in the first three terms at the SCG, with the home side mounting a late comeback in the final quarter, but it was to no avail, with Cox's side going down by eight points. The statistics painted a damning picture for the Swans, who by the figures, had looked the better side, barring one stat. The home team managed 76 more disposals, 83 more handballs and eight more inside 50s than their opponents. THE SWANS ARE 2-4 IN THE DEAN COX ERA 🔥 #AFLSwansPower — outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) April 20, 2025 But it was their efficiency with the ball inside 50 that was costly, with Sydney putting through 17 minor scores to Port Adelaide's seven. And as they wasted opportunities throughout the match, the body language of their coaching team in the dugout began to look more and more disheartened by the performance. Cox, notably, cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during the match. The Swans boss was seen holding his head in his hands and scratching his forehead in despair. It was a concerning look for the former West Coast ruckman, who won the AFL premiership with the Eagles back in 2006. Speaking on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, reporter Caroline Wilson said that the vision of Cox holding his head in his hands was a concerning look. 'What concerned me a lot when he came to the bench during that Port Adelaide game was there was just too much drama (going on),' she said. 'I think if you're seeing that as a player ... I don't think you want to see that.' Former Port Adelaide midfielder, Kane Cornes, agreed, saying: 'If you're going to be on the bench, there needs to be positivity. 'You've got to be engaging with your players, talking instructions, otherwise, get up to the box where your players can't see it.' Dale Thomas also agreed, revealing why he believed it's a bad look for the players. 'I'm happy with that being in the box but you can't be doing that if you are down on the ground because that sends a horrible message to your players who are doing their absolute best,' Thomas added. 'Just look at the lack of cohesion once this ball is won back from Port Adelaide… Are they a pressing defence? Are they a collapsing defence? There are players going in all sorts of directions. 'They have no idea what they're doing coming forward. There's a loose handover in there … That's an end-to-end transition through the middle of the ground that they play better than any other side. 'That is, again, confusion, and no doubt that is why time and again we're seeing Dean Cox with that frustration.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Port flex muscles on Swans as Wines suffers heart issue
Port Adelaide have withstood a late Sydney surge to claim an eight-point win in their preliminary final rematch, despite losing Ollie Wines to a recurrent heart problem. Wines was substituted out of the match at halftime with an irregular heartbeat before Port posted a 13.7 (85) to 10.17 (77) result at the SCG on Saturday. The 2021 Brownlow medallist had tried to continue playing after engaging in long discussions with the Power's doctor in the second quarter. But Wines withdrew soon after, replaced by club debutant Rory Atkins. Wines has managed his heart condition since being diagnosed in 2022 and was last subbed out of a match in last year's round 10 win over Hawthorn. Rioli roves it perfectly for his third!#AFLSwansPower — AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2025 In his absence, Port skipper Connor Rozee (one goal, 27 disposals) again proved damaging, so much so that Swans tagger James Jordon was moved off his post at quarter-time. Zak Butters also dominated with 27 disposals and seven clearances. Willie Rioli, after a difficult week as the latest Indigenous AFL star to be racially abused, kicked three goals to help keep Sydney winless at their home ground this season. Rioli was at the source of the opening major, releasing to Mitch Georgiades (three goals) inside-50, who then spotted an unmanned Sam Powell-Pepper (two) in the goal square. Swans defender Nick Blakey was too slow to read the play, with Powell-Pepper easily slotting. Isaac Heeney (two goals) pulled off a superb six-pointer from the pocket to reply but the visitors remained on top, enjoying a 4.2 (26) to 1.2 (8) lead at quarter time. Desperate to stop the Port ascendancy, Swans boss Dean Cox moved to the bench in the second term and called Blakey, Justin McInerney, Oliver Florent and Hayden McLean into a mid-quarter huddle. Blakey took Cox's words to heart and pulled off three electric runs down the corridor, but he fluffed his shots at goal. Port midfielder Willem Drew slotted a goal within 10 seconds of the second half siren before the Swans came to life to kick three-straight majors. Swans substitute Aaron Francis then kicked three consecutive goals himself in the final term to help reduce the deficit to 16 points. It became 10 when McClean goaled in the 31st minute but while surging, the Swans could add only three more behinds as their comeback fell short.
