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News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Embarrassing': Rival player labels Swans ‘a rabble' after SCG horror show
The Sydney Swans are bracing for the fallout of a humiliating 90-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday night as a Crows player labelled them 'a rabble'. Adelaide demolished the Swans to claim a 21.5 (131) to 5.11 (41) victory at the SCG, cementing their position in the top four as they push for a first finals berth since 2017. 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. The Swans were celebrating the 20-year anniversary of their droughtbreaking 2005 premiership, with Adam Goodes, Barry Hall and Leo Barry among the former players who did a lap of honour with ex-coach Paul Roos. But what was supposed to be a landmark night for the club turned into a football massacre and a black eye for the club. The 90-point defeat was Sydney's heaviest loss at the SCG since 2000. Haydn McLean kicked the first goal of the game, before Adelaide kicked five goals to one in the first quarter. The Crows piled on seven unanswered goals in the second term as the Swans completely fell apart. The SCG crowd gave Bronx cheers when the Swans kicked two behinds just before halftime, such was Sydney's difficulty in hitting the scoreboard. Apart from a 10-minute period to start the third quarter, Sydney continued to get hammered in the second half and in a humiliating sign, thousands of Swans flans left the SCG at three-quarter time. It meant the SCG seats were empty mostly by the time the final siren sounded as Swans supporters couldn't bare to watch. Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson described the result as a 'humiliation' for the Swans. Speaking post-game Crows defender Wayne Milera described the Swans as a 'rabble', adding he was pleased with his side's contested ball work and even contribution across the ground. 'You could sort of feel it as a group … they were sort of a bit of a rabble, just hearing them on the ground,' Milera told ABC Sport radio. That remark pricked the ears of Fox Footy's Super Saturday panel, who debated whether it went too far or was simply a fair description of a hapless Swans outfit. 'It's going to reverberate through two footy clubs, too, I think,' Fox Footy reporter Jay Clark said. 'It's the most damning post-match assessment of the season, and it's come from Adelaide's Wayne Milera ... That is a damning assessment from an opposition player — 'they were a rabble'. 'This is one of the proudest clubs in the competition. We know the history of the Sydney Football Club over the past two decades, and the champions that have played. They've been so consistent, and they've just been branded 'a rabble' by an opposition player from what he could hear them talk about on the field. 'Now, that is a big question mark. I think that'll send shockwaves through the Swans, and I'd be interested — how do the Adelaide Crows handle a comment from (one of their players). Is it disrespectful? Is it just honest?' 'One hundred per cent that's disrespectful (from Milera). Yeah, calling an opposition team 'a bit of a rabble' in a media sense,' Riewoldt stated. 'We've just come off the conversation with Matthew Nicks about they dropped Josh Rachele (last year) for 'values'. I'd love to know where a comment like that sits in the values of the Adelaide Football Club. 'So, there's clearly some big questions on that going forward, too.' Premiership Kangaroo David King questioned whether Milera meant his comment to sound as damning as it came across. 'He's a guy that doesn't have a history in this space. I can't remember hearing him speak. I can't remember hearing an interview from Wayne,' King said. 'I'd love to know what he was trying to say, whether he got his words wrong … I think it's something you can fix with a phone call. I'd be surprised if Matty Nicks didn't get on the phone and say 'look, we were out of line here, we made a mistake, can we step through this and move on?' 'It's just a simple error. I think he's got his words wrong, and I hope this doesn't become the story that maybe you think it will.' The result leaves Sydney languishing at 14th on the ladder with no hope of making finals, based on their current form. 'It was unacceptable and embarrassing,' Swans coach Dean Cox said of the result. 'Massive night for the footy club when you have a 20-year reunion. 'For a team that played desperate, uncompromising, ruthless football, and that (Saturday's performance) was far from it, so we need to strip it back and get to work real quick. 'We are going to fight our way through this, everyone that's involved at the footy club, and there's going to be no easy way through it. 'I said to them 'expect some tough sessions'. That'll happen.' 'I've got huge confidence in this playing group, but we need to make sure we spend time where we need to and to turn it around as quickly as possible.' The Swans take on Richmond next week before their mid-season bye.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Footy's biggest recluse Adam Goodes makes return to SCG for the Sydney Swans' 20-year AFL premiership reunion
AFL legend Adam Goodes made a triumphant return to the SCG on Saturday night as the Swans celebrated their 2005 premiership victory. The code's most decorated Indigenous player joined his premiership teammates in marching from Swans HQ to the SCG ahead of the club's match with Adelaide. The Swans were looking to bounce back from a dismal 53-point loss to Melbourne but instead endured a horror show. Kept to one goal in the opening half, Sydney conceded 12-straight majors on the way to a 21.5 (131) to 5.11 (41) loss. Former players, including Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin and Jude Bolton attended the match - but Goodes was the star that fans were most excited to see. The two-time Brownlow Medallist has refused to have anything to do with the game after his retirement, which came after he was subjected to racist taunts and prolonged booing from the crowd during his last three seasons - especially his final year. Goodes was called an 'ape' by a young Collingwood fan in an infamous 2013 incident. Days later, then-Magpies boss Eddie McGuire suggested promoters of a King Kong musical in Melbourne ask the footy star to promote the show. In 2015 he celebrated a goal against Carlton with an Indigenous-themed war cry that saw spectators target him heavily. That year he refused to participate in a grand final motorcade for retired players, and has declined invitations to AFL events ever since - even declining an invitation to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2021. AFL chairman Richard Goyder acknowledged that the AFL should have done better by Goodes after he rejected the 2021 invitation. 'The treatment of Adam in his final years at AFL level drove him from football,' Goyder said at the time. 'The AFL and our game did not do enough to stand with him at the time, and call it out. 'The unreserved apology that the game provided him in 2019 was too late, but, on behalf of our commission and the AFL, I apologise unreservedly again for our failures during this period. 'Failure to call out racism and not standing up for Adam let down all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, past and present. 'We hope that there will be a time in the future when Adam will want to be connected to the game again.' Fans were surprised and overjoyed to see a smiling Goodes watching on during Saturday's match. 'Sensational! So pleased to see all of them but particularly Goodesy,' posted one fan to social media. 'An absolute joy to see Adam Goodes,' replied another.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘We've missed you': Adam Goodes back at the SCG
Adam Goodes made a welcome return to the SCG on Saturday night as the Sydney Swans celebrated their 2005 premiership triumph. Goodes, 45, coach Paul Roos and members of the team that won the drought-breaking flag against West Coast two decades ago marched from Swans HQ to the SCG ahead of the round 12 match against Adelaide. 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. Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin, Tadhg Kennelly and Jude Bolton were also in attendance as the club and its fans saluted the four-point win over the Eagles that ended 72 years of South Melbourne and Sydney Swans pain. But Goodes was the biggest name and the ex-player fans were most thrilled to welcome back to the famous old ground. Watch some of the parade in the video player above The two-time Brownlow medallist played 372 games for the Swans, a club record, among a swag of honours before he retired in 2015. The closing years of his career were mired in controversy, however, stemming from his move to call out a young Collingwood fan that had called him an 'ape' during a game in 2013. Despite Goodes calling for support for the girl in the aftermath, it was the tipping point of a dark period for the sport, when the champion was regularly booed by opposition supporters whenever he took to the field or touched the footy. Goodes has largely stayed out of the footy spotlight in retirement, turning down an invitation to the 2015 grand final and the chance to join the AFL Hall of Fame in 2021. So the appearance of a smiling Goodes, greeting fans and seemingly relishing being back among his old teammates, thrilled scores of Swans fans watching on. There were countless comments on the official Sydney Swans page on Instagram as the club toasted a team that will forever live in history. 'Goodsey! That has made my night. So good to see him back at the club!' was one comment. 'Sensational! So pleased to see all of them but particularly Goodesy,' wrote another. 'Marvellous to see the boys together again. Thrilled to see Goodsey, you're always welcome,' said a third. 'Love that Goodsey went. Bloody legends!' said a fourth. Another wrote simply: 'We've missed you Goodsey.' There were similar sentiments on X, with one fan writing: 'Adam Goodes joining the rest of the 2005 team in the walk to the SCG is so wonderful to see.' Another wrote: 'So awesome to see the great man up close again!!' Sadly for Goodes, the 2005 team and the fans in attendance, the current Swans did not come to the party. After Sydney kicked the opening goal of the game through Hayden McLean, the Crows responded with a stunning 12 unanswered majors to power to a 65-point lead at halftime. The Swans are battling a tough season under first year coach Dean Cox, while the Crows – under former Swan Matthew Nicks – appear primed for a top-four run in 2025. 'What a quarter and what a half from the Adelaide Crows,' Anthony Hudson said on Fox Footy at the long break. 'They put up 12 goals, but Dean Cox has a massive headache. 'His Sydney Swans, on a night when they're celebrating past triumphs, have managed a meagre one goal.' As Paul Roos said during the halftime celebration: 'I thought these (2005) blokes might have brought their boots, get them back out there.' Perhaps inspired by the halftime parade, the Swans hit back to start the third term before the Crows regained control.
