Swans 13. 18 (96) d. Lions 10. 9 (69)
Frank Ienco reporting for AFANA from Sydney
At times they fumbled, kicked poorly and turned over the ball too easily, but the Sydney Swans have used their superior ability to close out games to down the Brisbane Lions by 27 points at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
After trailing by 10 points at the final change and looking anything like premiership favorites, the Swans slammed five goals to none in the final quarter in a commanding finish. The win also capped a memorable 250th game for star forward Michael O’Loughlin, whose last quarter goals helped seal the win.
Brisbane’s young brigade had impressed everyone with their efforts during the NAB Cup and consecutive victories in the first fortnight of the competition proper. But they made the trip south today with recent history against their side, having not beaten their opponents since 2002, losing to the Swans in their last five clashes by an average of seven goals. But the Lions looked anything but overawed during a tense first half.
With first quarters at the SCG usually attracting tight and tense affairs, today’s opening term shoot-out provided fans with some of the best footy of the year and showcased the attacking abilities of both sides. The Swans drew first blood when O’Loughlin fittingly kicked the first goal of the match six minutes in. A long attacking ball inside 50 came off hands, before ‘Magic’ pounced to swing through a goal. The quarter quickly became a shoot-out between two of the best key forwards in the game. Jonathon Brown kicked his first 12 minutes into the term when a strong mark near the boundary was equally matched by an impressive set shot for goal. From the next center bounce, Barry Hall, who had been in doubt all week with a knee injury, kicked two goals in quick succession, the latter an impressive shot from the 50 meter arc.
Three straight goals to the Lions mid-way through the term, including Brown’s 200th career goal, put the lions in front, but not to be outdone Hall soon responded
Not to be outdone, Hall replied with his 500th goal in AFL football, and a late goal on the run by small forward Adam Schneider gave the Swans the edge at the end of a free-flowing quarter of footy, 5.3 (33) to 4.3 (27)
Following a frenetic first term, it was inevitable that the start of the second would begin at a much more measured pace. With large numbers around the packs, scoring opportunities came at a premium, but soon Brisbane began to dominate the clearances around the ground and it began to show on the scoreboard. After providing the Lions scoring artillery in the first quarter, Brown underlined his importance to the Brisbane team by providing distributor for three goals in the space of just five minutes mid-way through the term. The last of which, at the 15 minute mark of term, was a pinpoint ball to rookie Colm Begley inside the goal square. Begley kick was his first goal in AFL football and gave the Lions a decisive 10 point lead.
Sydney instead was woeful with their handling and distribution of the ball, generally a feature of their game. They finally got their act together entering time-on when Hall left his opponent Daniel Merrett to set up Ben Matthews, before Ryan O’Keefe slotted an impressive long-range from 50. Despite dominating the final stages of the term, the Swans undeservedly led at the main break, albeit by the slenderest of margins, 7.6 (48) to 7.4 (46).
After holding the defending Grand Finalists to within a goal, the main question for the Lions in the second half would be whether they could maintain their intensity against a side who had mastered the art of grinding down their opposition. The signs were promising in the early minutes, when great pressure inside attacking 50 again led to more handling errors by Sydney, and ex-Swan Ben Fixter wheeled around to kick a great goal on the run.Despite the mid-afternoon heat taking its toll on the players, Brisbane maintained their intensity and kept forcing the Swans into turnovers. McGrath’s third goal was tinged with controversy when replays later showed the ball may rubbed the goalpost, but there was no doubt about Brisbane’s third goal for the term minutes later. A ball-up deep in attack released Scott Harding, and he was given free reign to run straight through into goal to extend the Lions lead to a game-high 16 points.
It was left for Hall to carry the hopes for the Swans, both in intensity and as the focal point in their attack. His fourth at the start of time-on kept the Swans in touch at the last change, but they had chances to get closer if not for misses by Jarred McVeigh and ruckman Peter Everitt (twice) late in the quarter. Brisbane led at three-quarter time 10.8 (68) to 8.10 (58).
The final quarter was proof that Sydney will again be difficult to beat again this year. Having looked out of sorts and falling behind on the scoreboard, the Swans stepped it up a gear in the last term, while the young Lions ran out of steam. Sydney needed something special to kick-start their comeback and it came through an unlikely source when full-back Leo Barry kicked straight from the 50 meter arc- his first goal since 2001. But like McGrath’s earlier efforts, subsequent replays show the ball may have grazed the goalpost padding.
Fittingly, O’Loughlin, who is set to become the games record holder for Sydney/South Melbourne later this year, kicked two last quarter goals including the clincher. Two further goals to youngster Tim Schmidt, the first of which was the result of great pressure by the Swans inside attacking 50 which underlined their last quarter pressure and domination, helped rub salt into the wound. While the 27 point margin may have flattered the Swans in what was generally a tight game, eight last quarter behinds meant the margin could have been far greater.
While Brisbane may feel unfortunate to have lost their first game of the season, they lost no admirers with their performance today. Their young legs could simply not keep up the intensity of the first three quarters, and while they may have eventually gone down to class and experience, having measured themselves against the competition’s best shows their rapid development is on the right track. Sydney, meanwhile, will take many positives from their first home win of the year, and after generally getting off to slow starts will be pleased to sit 2-1 after three rounds.
For a match held on rivalry round, it was almost ironic that unheralded ex-Lion Craig Bolton was the game’s best player, providing a commanding presence for the Swans and playing a fantastic role holding Jonathon Brown goalless for the final three quarters. Barry Hall was also instrumental keeping the Swans forward line in tack. In the centre of the ground, former Demon Darren Jolly capped his 100th game with an impressive 40 hit-outs. For the Lions, a number of youngsters, such as Jed Adcock played solid games, but their best came in the form of slightly more seasoned campaigners Jonathon Brown and Ashley McGrath (three goals apiece).
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews remained positive despite the defeat. “Well we couldn’t sustain it, and I thought for three quarters we were really good. I mean you’re playing against a side that is well proven to be able to play the high pressure, intense, in-close footy and I thought we more than matched them for three quarters, but that energy levels have just dropped away, so our last quarter was very poor, but I thought it proved that this group can play the level necessary in that pressure,” he said. “What we have to do is make sure that we come out next week and don’t start off like we finished today.”
Sydney coach Paul Roos says the despite being behind on the scoreboard, the Swans had the right structures in place and his side dominated statistically. “In the first three quarters our ball use was just as bad as I’ve seen it, at least we corrected it in the last quarter and gave ourselves a chance” Roos said. “It’s probably a common theme for us in the last three years. When you don’t get a lot of match practice (before) the season starting, unfortunately we’ve got to blow the rust out in the first three games. In that regard it’s really good to be 2-1.”
When asked about Leo Barry’s spectacular goal in the last term, Roos joked: “The good thing is he’s not talking about his mark anymore! (Following Barry’s infamous mark in the 2005 Grand Final) (He’s talking) about the goal now, so that will go on for another two years.”
Brisbane have a chance to return to the winners circle when they return to their former home on the Gold Coast to face the Kangaroos next Saturday night, while Sydney face a difficult trip to AAMI stadium to take on a resurgent Adelaide Crows.
Final Score- Sydney: 5.3 7.6 8.10 13.18
Brisbane: 4.3 7.4 10.8 10.9
Goals- Sydney: Hall 4, O’Loughlin 3, Schmidt 2, Schneider, Matthews,
O’Keefe, Barry. Brisbane: Brown 3, McGrath 3, Patfull, Begley,
Fixter, Harding.
Best- Sydney: C. Bolton, Hall, Kennelly, O’Keefe, Fosdike.
Brisbane: Brown, Notting, McGrath, Fixter Copeland.
Injuries- Sydney: Nil. Brisbane: Nil.
Reports- Nil.
Umpires- Allen, Kamolins, Meredith
Attendance- 24,854 @ the SCG
Article last changed on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 2:30 AM EDT
