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Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Perfection isn't enough. The Swans need a miracle to make the finals
Sydney's slim finals hopes appeared to be gone with four minutes remaining in Sunday's clash with St. Kilda. That was until Brodie Grundy tapped a ball-up down the throat of Errol Gulden, who had sprinted clear of his marker and snapped a goal from 40 metres out to put them in front. 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.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Perfection isn't enough. The Swans need a miracle to make the finals
Sydney's slim finals hopes appeared to be gone with four minutes remaining in Sunday's clash with St. Kilda. That was until Brodie Grundy tapped a ball-up down the throat of Errol Gulden, who had sprinted clear of his marker and snapped a goal from 40 metres out to put them in front. 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.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Genius play keeps Sydney Swans' slim hopes of making finals alive
Sydney's 2025 campaign has a slight pulse, with its slim finals hopes still alive after a hard-fought five-point win over a gallant St Kilda in an engrossing, physical encounter at Marvel Stadium. The Saints led by as much as 18 points in the third quarter before Sydney launched a stirring comeback, which included three unanswered goals at the start of the fourth term. 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. Saints ruck Rowan Marshall levelled the scores with a goal before Brodie Grundy and Errol Gulden teamed up to pull off an epic forward 50 stoppage play, with Grundy palming the ball perfectly into the lap of a running Gulden, who nailed the, ultimately match-winning, goal. Gulden's major sealed a five-point win, 14.8 (92) to St Kilda's 13.9 (87), that keeps Sydney's hopes of making the top eight alive … just. Swan Jake Lloyd kicked a career-high three goals, while Will Hayward kicked two of his three goals in the final term to prove a match-winner. 'The Swans' season has life! But only just,' Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell declared on the siren. Will Hayward makes it a ONE POINT GAME ðŸ'€ ðŸ'° Watch #AFLSaintsSwans on Ch.503 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 13, 2025 Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt added: 'It's a brutal game sometimes – and it's a beautiful game sometimes as well. 'That small glimmer of September is still there.' Swans star Isaac Heeney was blunt in his summation of the game. 'It was a hard-fought game,' Heeney told Fox Footy. 'They beat us around the contest, they bullied us in the tackling early and we couldn't stick our tackles. 'It was a bit patchy for our liking, but they're a good side and they're up and about. 'It was good to win that arm-wrestle, fight back and hold it.' The AFL was initially facing the prospect of having to leave the Marvel Stadium roof open for Sunday's game, with venue staff just over 90 minutes before the bounce frantically working to fix a mechanical issue as one side of the roof was stopping short. The roof, however, was eventually shut. If it hadn't have been fixed, the roof would've had to have been left open, as it has to be either fully shut or fully open for a game. THE 3-2-1 … 3. 'SUPERB' MOMENT HELPS SWANS DELIVER 'HAMMER BLOW… BUT IT WASN'T A SET PLAY Brodie Grundy insisted it wasn't intentional, but his hit-out to set up Errol Gulden's match-winning play looked out of a Swans playbook. Trailing by one point, the Swans were running out of time. Enter Grundy and Gulden, who took control at a forward 50 stoppage. Grundy not only won a clean hit-out, put it perfectly to the advantage of a sweeping Gulden, who burst away from Saint Jack Sinclair and nailed the match-winning goal. 'It was as much as the hit-out from Grundy as it was the goal from Gulden. The combination was absolutely superb,' Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy. 'He ran onto his left foot and delivered the hammer blow.' Asked if it was a set play, Grundy told Fox Footy post-game: 'Nah, I just try to connect with the superstars in our team. Whether it's Errol, Chad, Heens – we're very blessed. 'Errol caught my eye. He's a classy player and a quality finish.' It was a high scoring opening to the contest before the Swans were able to get on top with Lloyd getting an early sniff. He had two goals in the first term as part of four majors in a row for the visitors as they threatened to take control. Two late first term goals to Saints skipper Jack Steele and Hugh Boxshall reduced the margin to eight points at the first change after a nine-goal quarter. After such a frenetic opening, the second term was a stalemate until Cooper Sharman kicked his first goal at the 15-minute mark after being on the end of some Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera brilliance. That sparked the Saints, with Max Hall kicking two goals in a minute to help the home side to a 10-point lead at the main break after keeping the Swans goalless for the term. 'The Saints are sniffing a big win and they're running like winners. Lots of time to go, but something has to turnaround (for Sydney),' Healy said. The Saints got three goals up in the third term and settled for a 13-point lead at the final change. With Hayward hitting the scoreboard in the final term, the Swans were able to prevail after a topsy turvy final stanza. — with NCA NewsWire 2. 'GOOD AND BAD' OF IN-DEMAND SAINTS STAR WHO 'THROWS SOMETHING BACK AT SWANS' St Kilda legend Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy's First Crack last week that re-signing Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the Saints' biggest contract priority since Tony Lockett – and after Sunday's performance, it's hard to argue with Joey. We saw the best – and, albeit, the worst at times – of the in-demand star, who burned off the James Jordon tag during an electric first-half display. Saints coach Ross Lyon revealed to Fox Footy pre-game he'd given Wanganeen-Milera 'a licence to go wherever he wants', adding his coaching staff were 'optimistic about how that unfolds'. At the start of the third quarter, Jordon had been relieved of his tagging duties, with Swans skipper Callum Mills instead tasked with running with Wanganeen-Milera, who'd racked up 15 disposals in the first half. Wanganeen-Milera ran Jordon ragged early, taking him to centre-half forward — he took two contested marks — then the midfield — he had three clearances. But Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy in the first quarter was questioning whether the Saints were getting the best out of Wanganeen-Milera. 'The question the Saints will be asking themselves is: 'What are we giving up by having Wanganeen-Milera not playing across that half-back line?'' Healy asked on Fox Footy. NAS sold the candy TWICE before Sheldrick ran him down 😤 ðŸ'° Watch #AFLSaintsSwans on Ch.503 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 13, 2025 'If he kicks some goals in the front half, the answer is 'nothing'. But if he doesn't, you're giving up plenty.' But Wanganeen-Milera continued to push through the Jordon attention and had an impact in all three areas of the ground. There were a few ordinary kicking clangers, but he also pulled off some brilliant passes that set up Saints scores. 'You get the good and the bad sometimes with Nasiah,' triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy. 'He misses the easy kicks, but makes the hard looks so simple. 'One thing he does is he gets involved once then he remains on the same wave of the ball and gets involved again. 'He just gives them something different – and this is something James Jordon hasn't tagged before. He's a player that just has this exhilarating speed to put four or five metres into you very quickly and you can't catch up. 'He's been able to break the James Jordon tag and throw something back at the Sydney Swans.' Wanganeen-Milera, who remains unsigned beyond this season, finished with 24 disposals and a game-high 721m gained. 1. 'SHAME': HORROR, GRUESOME INJURY TO SAINTS STAR As far as gruesome injuries go, this was right up there. Dan Butler was subbed out of Sunday's game late in the second quarter after suffering a sickening elbow injury. (Here's your warning: If you're not squeamish, below is an incredible photograph by Morgan Hancock of Butler's injury. Otherwise stop reading.) Butler and debutant Max Heath applied pressure on Swan Sam Wicks, which led to a loose ball gather for Max Hall and a classy goal. But amid Butler's defensive effort, his arm became awkwardly tangled. The small forward fell to the ground in agony before Saints medicos raced out to assist him off the ground. When an injury incident isn't replayed on the TV broadcast, you know it's serious. 'It's a shame for Butler, because he was starting to really show some form,' Healy told Fox Footy. Sydney's win was soured by key defender Tom McCartin being unable to finish the game after a high hit from debutant Heath. McCartin – who has a history of concussion – taken high by debutant Max Heath in the final term. He took no further part as a 'precaution,' with Heath set to come under the scrutiny of the MRO.
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Toothpick leg' Gulden makes AFL return
AFL: Errol Gulden has made his long-awaited return to the AFL after a nasty pre-season ankle injury, opening up post-game about his journey to get back to the Swans first grade side.
The Advertiser
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Don't pin hopes on comeback Swans, cautions coach
Sydney coach Dean Cox doesn't expect miracles from his returning big guns. And he also doesn't want his Swans to pin hopes of a late-season revival on the comebacks of some top talent for Saturday's away clash against Port Adelaide. Dual All Australian Errol Gulden (ankle) will play his first game since last year's grand final, while Tom Papley, absent since round three, Joel Amartey and Matt Roberts also return. "One thing you don't want to rely on is getting certain players back to turn your season around," Cox told reporters in Adelaide. "They are important players for our football club. "But we have got to make sure that we're building a system and a way we play so when they do come back, they just add. "Time will tell how quickly they dive back into it, but they have worked extremely hard through their rehab process." But the inclusions have Port Adelaide wary ahead of the Adelaide Oval fixture. "On paper they look really good," Power assistant coach Tyson Goldsack told reporters. "We don't know at what level they can perform with their first game back, say Gulden and Papley in particular, Amartey has missed a chunk of footy. "They're really good players, and if they all have a day they're going to be hard to stop. "But at the same time we're in pretty good form, so we will take on all comers." The Power (11th, six wins, seven losses) are two wins outside the top eight ahead of hosting 13th-placed Sydney. "Us and Sydney, we have got a mountain of work to do in the back half of the year," Goldsack said. "But our players are up for the fight." Port lost Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and key defender Aliir Aliir to knee injuries, with Lachie Jones among those recalled. Midfielder Jason Horne-Francis was selected despite being on light duties after copping a knock to his right shoulder in last week's win against Melbourne. "He has had a lean week. He got some treatment that should see him play OK with it," Goldsack said. "I don't think it is a big risk, it's just pain management." Sydney coach Dean Cox doesn't expect miracles from his returning big guns. And he also doesn't want his Swans to pin hopes of a late-season revival on the comebacks of some top talent for Saturday's away clash against Port Adelaide. Dual All Australian Errol Gulden (ankle) will play his first game since last year's grand final, while Tom Papley, absent since round three, Joel Amartey and Matt Roberts also return. "One thing you don't want to rely on is getting certain players back to turn your season around," Cox told reporters in Adelaide. "They are important players for our football club. "But we have got to make sure that we're building a system and a way we play so when they do come back, they just add. "Time will tell how quickly they dive back into it, but they have worked extremely hard through their rehab process." But the inclusions have Port Adelaide wary ahead of the Adelaide Oval fixture. "On paper they look really good," Power assistant coach Tyson Goldsack told reporters. "We don't know at what level they can perform with their first game back, say Gulden and Papley in particular, Amartey has missed a chunk of footy. "They're really good players, and if they all have a day they're going to be hard to stop. "But at the same time we're in pretty good form, so we will take on all comers." The Power (11th, six wins, seven losses) are two wins outside the top eight ahead of hosting 13th-placed Sydney. "Us and Sydney, we have got a mountain of work to do in the back half of the year," Goldsack said. "But our players are up for the fight." Port lost Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and key defender Aliir Aliir to knee injuries, with Lachie Jones among those recalled. Midfielder Jason Horne-Francis was selected despite being on light duties after copping a knock to his right shoulder in last week's win against Melbourne. "He has had a lean week. He got some treatment that should see him play OK with it," Goldsack said. "I don't think it is a big risk, it's just pain management." Sydney coach Dean Cox doesn't expect miracles from his returning big guns. And he also doesn't want his Swans to pin hopes of a late-season revival on the comebacks of some top talent for Saturday's away clash against Port Adelaide. Dual All Australian Errol Gulden (ankle) will play his first game since last year's grand final, while Tom Papley, absent since round three, Joel Amartey and Matt Roberts also return. "One thing you don't want to rely on is getting certain players back to turn your season around," Cox told reporters in Adelaide. "They are important players for our football club. "But we have got to make sure that we're building a system and a way we play so when they do come back, they just add. "Time will tell how quickly they dive back into it, but they have worked extremely hard through their rehab process." But the inclusions have Port Adelaide wary ahead of the Adelaide Oval fixture. "On paper they look really good," Power assistant coach Tyson Goldsack told reporters. "We don't know at what level they can perform with their first game back, say Gulden and Papley in particular, Amartey has missed a chunk of footy. "They're really good players, and if they all have a day they're going to be hard to stop. "But at the same time we're in pretty good form, so we will take on all comers." The Power (11th, six wins, seven losses) are two wins outside the top eight ahead of hosting 13th-placed Sydney. "Us and Sydney, we have got a mountain of work to do in the back half of the year," Goldsack said. "But our players are up for the fight." Port lost Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and key defender Aliir Aliir to knee injuries, with Lachie Jones among those recalled. Midfielder Jason Horne-Francis was selected despite being on light duties after copping a knock to his right shoulder in last week's win against Melbourne. "He has had a lean week. He got some treatment that should see him play OK with it," Goldsack said. "I don't think it is a big risk, it's just pain management."
