https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/li...g/news-story/df7eb1715cad0182aca329757840c1c7
Sydney has booked its ticket to a preliminary final after a rousing 22-point upset win over Melbourne at the MCG, 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69).
After a thrilling first half where both sides traded blows, the Swans edged ahead in the third term before kicking away in the final stanza including the match-sealer to Isaac Heeney while holding the Dees goalless.
It’ll mark the Swans’ first preliminary final at the SCG since 1996, while Melbourne is now set to host Brisbane at the MCG next week in a knockout semi-final.
“If you want to barrack for a side, barrack for this mob, because they give you value for money,” Demons great Garry Lyon said of Sydney post-match on Fox Footy.
“Their performance tonight was as tough a performance as you’re likely to see ... they just outworked them. They were magnificent.”
The Swans have advanced to the preliminary final (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Fox Sports
The game was everything you’d expect from a final — and two great teams — it was tough, tight, contested footy where nothing came easy for either side.
The key difference in the game was the Swans’ immense defensive pressure including a 200 pressure rating (up 180 on the AFL average), 82 tackles (58) and 25 forward 50 tackles (10), which meant the Dees rarely had space to operate in.
“It’s not that they were spooked by it, but they simple couldn’t do anything. Forty times they exited their defensive 50, they scored once,” Saints champion Nick Riewoldt said of Melbourne.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley added: “It’s based on work rate as much as much as it is intent. Everywhere you looked around the field in the second half, the ball moves 20 metres ... take a photo, who’s got more bodies in the TV screen? The ball would move another 25m or 50m, Sydney would have an extra two or three at that contest.
“They just outworked and out pressured the opposition.”
Callum Mills led the way for Sydney with 23 disposals, 606 metres gained, 11 tackles and one goal, while Jake Lloyd (25 touches, 10 marks, two goals), Luke Parker (25 possessions, 11 tackles, one goal) and Tom Hickey (17 touches, one goal, 24 hit-outs) were all influential on the night, and the McCartin brothers stood tall in defence.
For Melbourne, Clayton Oliver was at his brilliant best in the midfield, tallying 29 disposals, eight tackles and two goals, and Steven May completely shutdown Lance Franklin, holding the Swans superstar goalless.
Triple-premiership winning Lion Jonathan Brown highlighted how the win showed the growth of the Swans in bouncing back from last year’s elimination final loss to GWS.
“You know when you’re maturing as a team when you go on the road and win a big final against the defending premiers of last year. And they won in the manner that they’ve won the last six or eight weeks,” he said.
Sydney has booked its ticket to a preliminary final after a rousing 22-point upset win over Melbourne at the MCG, 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69).
After a thrilling first half where both sides traded blows, the Swans edged ahead in the third term before kicking away in the final stanza including the match-sealer to Isaac Heeney while holding the Dees goalless.
It’ll mark the Swans’ first preliminary final at the SCG since 1996, while Melbourne is now set to host Brisbane at the MCG next week in a knockout semi-final.
“If you want to barrack for a side, barrack for this mob, because they give you value for money,” Demons great Garry Lyon said of Sydney post-match on Fox Footy.
“Their performance tonight was as tough a performance as you’re likely to see ... they just outworked them. They were magnificent.”
The Swans have advanced to the preliminary final (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Fox Sports
The game was everything you’d expect from a final — and two great teams — it was tough, tight, contested footy where nothing came easy for either side.
The key difference in the game was the Swans’ immense defensive pressure including a 200 pressure rating (up 180 on the AFL average), 82 tackles (58) and 25 forward 50 tackles (10), which meant the Dees rarely had space to operate in.
“It’s not that they were spooked by it, but they simple couldn’t do anything. Forty times they exited their defensive 50, they scored once,” Saints champion Nick Riewoldt said of Melbourne.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley added: “It’s based on work rate as much as much as it is intent. Everywhere you looked around the field in the second half, the ball moves 20 metres ... take a photo, who’s got more bodies in the TV screen? The ball would move another 25m or 50m, Sydney would have an extra two or three at that contest.
“They just outworked and out pressured the opposition.”
Callum Mills led the way for Sydney with 23 disposals, 606 metres gained, 11 tackles and one goal, while Jake Lloyd (25 touches, 10 marks, two goals), Luke Parker (25 possessions, 11 tackles, one goal) and Tom Hickey (17 touches, one goal, 24 hit-outs) were all influential on the night, and the McCartin brothers stood tall in defence.
For Melbourne, Clayton Oliver was at his brilliant best in the midfield, tallying 29 disposals, eight tackles and two goals, and Steven May completely shutdown Lance Franklin, holding the Swans superstar goalless.
Triple-premiership winning Lion Jonathan Brown highlighted how the win showed the growth of the Swans in bouncing back from last year’s elimination final loss to GWS.
“You know when you’re maturing as a team when you go on the road and win a big final against the defending premiers of last year. And they won in the manner that they’ve won the last six or eight weeks,” he said.
