Latest news with #Swans
Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Swans won't give up despite "impossible" finals dream
Sydney coach Dean Cox looks at the ladder and knows a finals berth is mathematically impossible, but he won't let the Swans give up on ending their season on a high. The tenth-placed Swans had to beat cross-city rivals GWS to keep their slim post-season hopes alive and looked primed to do so when they built a 35-point lead before the main break. But the Giants stormed away with a sensational third-quarter performance to set up a 44-point win. The visitors had slotted six straight goals in the opening half despite losing key forward Hayden McLean (concussion) early. In the second, they kicked just one through Justin McInerney and notched a total of eight points. Sydney's usual stars struggled to fire against the relentless pressure of the Orange Tsunami. After a best-on-ground performance against North Melbourne, Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney was kept to just 22 disposals and two clearances. While Errol Gulden had 32 touches, Chad Warner had just 19. Swans livewire Tom Papley, on return from a hamstring injury, kicked just one goal in the opening half and was kept to three touches in the second. "We played the footy we did in the first half with the same team (as in the second half)," Cox said. "The disappointing part was the second half and the way we played, but we need to make sure we fight this year out as well as we possibly can. "We understand that it's probably mathematically impossible to make the finals, but we're going to have a throw at the stumps as long as we possibly can." Sydney sit tenth (9-10) ahead of the weekend's clashes, eight points behind Gold Coast (11-6). The Western Bulldogs (11-8) are also on 44 points but sit eighth on percentage, while Fremantle are seventh on 48 points. With just four rounds left, Sydney will need a miracle to make finals. Sydney play a struggling Essendon (SCG) outfit first, before Brisbane (Gabba), Geelong (SCG) and West Coast (Optus Stadium). Cox also expects Joel Hamling to miss out on game time after the defender suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter. "One thing we need to do is to make sure that we can build as much as we possibly can towards the back end for pre-season and for next year," Cox said. "And every time I say to a player, every time you represent this football club in that jumper, you have to fight as hard as you possibly can to win games of footy."
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Season over for Swans after sensational Giants comeback
GWS have stormed home to stun the Swans and end their Sydney rivals' finals hopes. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) GWS have stormed home to stun the Swans and end their Sydney rivals' finals hopes. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP GWS have turned on a third-quarter blitz to secure a sensational 44-point comeback win and drive the dagger into bitter rivals Sydney's finals hopes. Down by 35 points before the main break at Engie Stadium, the Giants needed the first goal when play resumed to keep their bid for a top-four finish alive. Adam Kingsley's side got that when young gun Finn Callaghan answered the call with a dash down the corridor, setting up a 15.12 (102) to 8.10 (58) win on Friday night. So dominant were GWS after early strife that they kicked eight straight goals - nine in total - in the third quarter for a 23-point lead at the final change. The home side had kicked just three majors in the opening half. Snaring their first win in six derbies, the Giants have effectively ended their cross-town rivals' campaign to muscle into finals contention. The in-form outfit move to fifth (13-6) with their sixth consecutive win, while Sydney languish in 10th (9-10) ahead of the weekend's clashes. A serious head knock to Hayden McLean further soured the loss, the Swans forward stretchered off in the opening minute. Sydney then lost defender Joel Hamling (hamstring) in the third quarter, while Giants veteran Josh Kelly's night ended prematurely with a calf complaint. Callaghan and Tom Green were sensational for the Giants at the contest, as captain Toby Greene proved their firestarter in a fierce battle with Swans livewire Tom Papley. Greene had issued an ominous warning at halftime after Papley celebrated his first major on return from a hamstring injury by making a beeline for the Giants forward. "He's (Papley) looking overweight," Greene told Fox Footy at halftime. "Let's see how he goes in the second half." Greene also had a pre-first-bounce tussle with Swans defender Dane Rampe before giving away a free kick for an arm to Isaac Heeney's head. Aaron Cadman and Jake Stringer slotted three majors each, as defenders Harry Himmelberg and Lachie Ash got in on the goalscoring action with one apiece. Errol Gulden led the Swans with 32 disposals, while Will Hayward was commanding in attack with three-straight majors in the opening half. Sydney started the better side after finding composure following McLean's injury. He clashed heads with Giants defender Jack Buckley in a marking contest. Buckley had been pushed into McLean when Giants teammate Sam Taylor entered the contest and attempted to spoil the mark while wrestling with Swans player Jack Buller. Play was delayed for six minutes as a conscious McLean left the field on a medicab, with Aaron Francis coming into the game in his place. Sydney then kicked six straight goals to take a 28-point lead at halftime, before Greene issued his Orange Tsunami warning.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Footy world uses the same word for Toby Greene's latest act
The Giants stormed home for a stunning 38-point win over the Swans on Friday night, but huge sections of the footy world were left using the same word for Toby Greene after his latest aggressive act against Isaac Heeney. The Swans led by 28 points at halftime, but the Giants turned the match on its head after the main break, prevailing 15.12 (102) to 8.10 (58) to effectively end Sydney's season. 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? Join now and get your first month for just $1. With both teams battling for a shot at September in a massive Sydney Derby, Greene adopted his usual confrontational style, but may have stepped over the line in the first quarter. And at a time when the Giants need him more than ever, the skipper could be looking at yet another stint on the sidelines with four matches now remaining in the regular season. The Swans copped an unfortunate blow in the first minute of the game when Hayden McLean took an accidental shot to the head and was immediately subbed out. Despite that setback, Sydney still worked its way on top in the first term before Greene struck. Midway through the quarter, Sydney's Aaron Francis spilled a mark before finding Errol Gulden, who got smashed in a tackle as the footy bounced free. Francis managed to get it back and handballed to Heeney, who shrugged off Greene's attempted tackle before he was wrapped up by Sam Taylor Greene didn't take kindly to being dropped by Heeney, returning to the contest and appearing to aim his elbow or forearm right at the side of the Sydney superstar's head. Greene looked up at the umpire hoping for a holding the ball decision before the umpire called a high tackle against him. 'They reversed it, I think it was Toby Greene for high contact after the holding the ball decision,' Leigh Montagna said calling the action on Fox Footy. When Alastair Lynch suggested Greene 'gave him one to the guts', Dwayne Russell fired back: 'I reckon he got him a bit higher than the guts looking at that replay.' The commentary team then got on with calling the action, with the Swans kicking six straight goals either side of quarter-time to grab control of the game. But Ben Dixon was focused on Greene at the first break. 'No shots fired during the week, very quiet leading into Derby 31 and Toby Greene might've been saving his rounds because the first quarter he was firing shots left, right and centre,' he said from the boundary line. 'Isaac Heeney's 'don't argue' on Toby Greene, he said 'I'm not having that', comes in with a forearm to the head, reverse free kick. That was holding the ball. 'And then off the ball with Aaron Francis, just one to the chest, throwing his weight around. 'He's not going to miss many tonight the way the captain's going about it.' Greene also showed his contempt towards fellow agitator Tom Papley heading to the halftime break, telling Fox Footy 'he's looking overweight, see how he goes second half'. Social media immediately caught fire over the incident between Heeney and the man who holds two highly unwanted AFL records. Greene has been hit with 25 charges by the AFL Match Review committee and $35,600 worth of fines, both all-time records in the competition's history. Footy producer Brad Klibansky wrote on X: 'That's a weak act from Toby Greene.' Bryce O'Connor tweeted: 'I normally defend Toby, but that was s**thouse!' Footy account Outbreezy WC said: 'I like Toby Greene but he is 100% a dirty player.' The Surly Sportsman replied: 'I like him too, but someone needs to smack him in his face for real.' A whole range of footy fans all used the same word to describe the combative Giants star. X account @drawnbarrier13 wrote: 'Once a grub, always a grub.' @matthewsmith510 said: 'What an absolute f**king grub Toby is.' @danieIthompson offered: 'Toby Greene is a complete grub. Complete myth too, hasn't been good since 2019.' Jon Malpa stated: 'Toby Greene proving yet again that he is the biggest grub in the AFL.' BMacca Sports added: 'Red mist descending on Toby atm … I get playing hard but the bloke is an all-time grub.' There were many more, but we think you get the idea. Many also suggested Greene was heading for yet another stint on the sidelines. @ARJ7X tweeted: 'Toby might be having a holiday after that.' @straightrocket added simply: 'Bye Toby.' It remains to be seen if the former All Australian captain will indeed face another suspension. But at a time when his club is fighting for a shot at a first premiership, he could be giving coach Adam Kingsley the type of headache he desperately doesn't need. Apart from Greene's first-half moment of madness, the Giants flexed their premiership aspirations in a sensational turnaround that leaves them knocking on the door of the top four and the Swans planning for 2026.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Young Swans defender Riak Andrew cops a huge ban for using a homophobic slur
Young Sydney defender Riak Andrew has copped a heavy sanction from the AFL for using a homophobic slur in last Saturday's VFL clash with North Melbourne. Andrew, 20, has been suspended for five games and took full responsibility for his actions, releasing a statement on behalf of the Swans. 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? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The brother of Gold Coast star Mac Andrew, Riak will also undertake Pride in Sport training to further his understanding of the impact of the language he used. 'I am deeply sorry for the word that I used in Saturday's game and any hurt that it has caused,' Andrew said. 'While I did not understand the full impact of the words I used at the time, I certainly do now, and have deep regret for my actions. 'This has impacted not only our club but the broader community and for that I am truly sorry. I am committed to using this as an opportunity to learn and get better.' The 193cm key defender was taken with the 55th pick in the 2024 AFL Draft after a strong season with the Dandenong Stingrays. Andrew signed a contract extension with the Swans in May, taking him through to the end of the 2026 campaign. The AFL released a statement advising Andrew had been found guilty of breaching a Conduct Unbecoming rule in relation to an incident during the first quarter of the VFL match against the Roos at Tramway Oval. The incident was first reported to an umpire by a North Melbourne player at the end of the first quarter and then to the AFL. An investigation was then carried out by the AFL Integrity Unit, which determined Andrew used a 'highly offensive homophobic slur towards a North Melbourne opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality'. Andrew admitted to the incident and showed remorse, with the suspension effectively ending his first season in the AFL landscape. AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade was clearly disappointed at having to deal with another incident of homophobic language on the footy field. 'It is important that we continue to make clear that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our game at any level or in the wider community for that matter,' Meade said. 'It is disappointing to be dealing with another incident and while we will always examine the individual circumstances, the clear message is that this language is not acceptable in any workplace and that includes on the field of play.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
First-year Swan learns his fate following AFL investigation into homophobic slur
Sydney defender Riak Andrew has been slapped with a five-match AFL suspension after being found guilty of using a homophobic slur while representing the Swans' reserves team. First-year player Andrew, the younger brother of Gold Coast star Mac Andrew, used the slur during the Swans' VFL clash with North Melbourne on Saturday. The AFL Integrity Unit investigated the matter after a North Melbourne player informed an umpire about it during the match. The investigation found that Andrew used a highly offensive homophobic slur towards a North Melbourne opponent. Riak Andrew has received a five-match sanction after using a highly offensive homophobic slur in the VFL against a North Melbourne opponent. 'In the course of the investigation, Andrew made full admissions and was remorseful and apologetic,' the AFL said in a statement. As part of the five-match ban, Andrew will undertake Pride in Sport education. 'I am deeply sorry for the word that I used in Saturday's game and any hurt that it has caused,' Andrew said in a statement. 'While I did not understand the full impact of the words I used at the time, I certainly do now, and have deep regret for my actions. 'This has impacted not only our club but the broader community, and for that I am truly sorry. I am committed to using this as an opportunity to learn and get better.' Andrew's slur came as Sydney prepare to hold their annual celebration of LGBTIQA+ communities, when they host Essendon at the SCG on August 2. The 20-year-old was taken with pick No.55 in last year's draft and is yet to make his AFL debut. Earlier this month, West Coast midfielder Jack Graham was found guilty of conduct unbecoming and suspended for four matches for using a homophobic slur during his side's loss to GWS. Another three AFL players were suspended for using homophobic slurs last season. 'It is important that we continue to make clear that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our game at any level or in the wider community for that matter,' AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement on Wednesday night. 'It is disappointing to be dealing with another incident and while we will always examine the individual circumstances, the clear message is that this language is not acceptable in any workplace and that includes on the field of play'
