QF 1: Sydney Swans v GWS Match Thread

[Hotpotato]

I dont have any high level animosity towards the Giants.
The two sides put on a showcase performance for the code especially in Emerald City.
In the Brewongle, sitting in a rare group of Giants supporters at the final siren, some applauded the Swans comeback.
In the pub before the game I asked some of them why they support the Giants.
“Oh, we have moved here from Perth and we are West Coast supporters, so we hate you guys, thats why.”

Made sense to me.
Hope they make the Granny with the Swans.

[dejavoodoo44]

Campbell has never been used in the midfield. He was the best midfielder in his draft year, the reason 17 other clubs were after him. On Saturday he appeared to be thrust into the midfield. Got a centre clearance and was all over the ground. Yes he was on fresh legs but his gut running was a highlight and ran a long way to get into the position to take that mark.

Yes, and there was another occasion when he kicked the ball to Heeney from the half back flank, and when Heeney booted it into the forward line, he was there to lay a tackle.

Although my impression of Campbell's position, was that he was given the "Yeah, Errol, you just do whatever you want" role. In that, he seemed to have a licence to run anywhere that he thought was handy. Which seemed a good idea, since Errol wasn't playing as well as he usually does.

Assuming that he starts next match, it'll be interesting to see if he's given that amount of freedom, or will he be more constrained by defensive structures?

[dejavoodoo44]

The SCG has hosted 10 finals. Sydney has won six of them by 6 points or fewer.

From afltables.com.

1996 QF Sydney 13.12 (90) Hawthorn 12.12 (84) W 6 Sat 07-Sep-1996 8:15 PM
1996 PF Sydney 10.10 (70) Essendon 10.9 (69) W 1 Sat 21-Sep-1996 8:00 PM
1998 QF Sydney 12.17 (89) St Kilda 13.9 (87) W 2 Sat 05-Sep-1998 7:45 PM
1998 SF Sydney 10.7 (67) Adelaide 14.10 (94) L 27 Sat 12-Sep-1998 7:45 PM
2005 SF Sydney 7.14 (56) Geelong 7.11 (53) W 3 Fri 09-Sep-2005 8:00 PM
2016 SF Sydney 18.10(118) Adelaide 12.10 (82) W 36 Sat 17-Sep-2016 7:25 PM
2017 EF Sydney 19.7 (121) Essendon 8.8 (56) W 65 Sat 09-Sep-2017 4:20 PM
2018 EF Sydney 4.6 (30) GWS Giants 10.19 (79) L 49 Sat 08-Sep-2018 4:20 PM
2022 PF Sydney 14.11 (95) Collingwood 14.10 (94) W 1 Sat 17-Sep-2022 4:45 PM
2024 QF Sydney 13.10 (88) GWS Giants 12.10 (82) W 6 Sat 07-Sep-2024 3:20 PM

And from that, we won both of the prelims by a point. I'd prefer something a bit more comfortable in the next one.

[Nico]

Campbell has never been used in the midfield. He was the best midfielder in his draft year, the reason 17 other clubs were after him. On Saturday he appeared to be thrust into the midfield. Got a centre clearance and was all over the ground. Yes he was on fresh legs but his gut running was a highlight and ran a long way to get into the position to take that mark.

[KTigers]

Cool that two of the greatest marks this century were taken at the SCG. First Reiwoldt's insane grab in 2004, and Isaac on Saturday.

[Thunder Shaker]

The SCG has hosted 10 finals. Sydney has won six of them by 6 points or fewer.

From afltables.com.

1996 QF Sydney 13.12 (90)  Hawthorn    12.12 (84) W 6   Sat 07-Sep-1996 8:15 PM
1996 PF Sydney 10.10 (70)  Essendon    10.9 (69)  W 1   Sat 21-Sep-1996 8:00 PM
1998 QF Sydney 12.17 (89)  St Kilda    13.9 (87)  W 2   Sat 05-Sep-1998 7:45 PM
1998 SF Sydney 10.7 (67)   Adelaide    14.10 (94) L 27  Sat 12-Sep-1998 7:45 PM
2005 SF Sydney 7.14 (56)   Geelong     7.11 (53)  W 3   Fri 09-Sep-2005 8:00 PM
2016 SF Sydney 18.10(118)  Adelaide    12.10 (82) W 36  Sat 17-Sep-2016 7:25 PM
2017 EF Sydney 19.7 (121)  Essendon    8.8 (56)   W 65  Sat 09-Sep-2017 4:20 PM
2018 EF Sydney 4.6 (30)    GWS Giants  10.19 (79) L 49  Sat 08-Sep-2018 4:20 PM
2022 PF Sydney 14.11 (95)  Collingwood 14.10 (94) W 1   Sat 17-Sep-2022 4:45 PM
2024 QF Sydney 13.10 (88)  GWS Giants  12.10 (82) W 6   Sat 07-Sep-2024 3:20 PM

[lwjoyner]

I am not sure why most of u dont like Taylor Adams. I for one see him as a needed player as he is hard at the ball and throws himself into the action. Maybe on Sat performance JMac gets dropped.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I'm unable to paste the freeze frame photo of Heeney's mark at his highest point, but i can't help comparing his marking ability to that of legendary Bob Pratt from what i've read & seen of his photos.

The Bob Pratt mark wasn't a mark. According to Bob himself he lept and grabbed the ball at a boundary throw in and the photographer took the pick. HE went on to say photographers missed all his best marks.

[mcs]

Yep. I’ve always wanted Campbell to succeed and thought he’d eventually get there, but he also seemed a player who needed a real injection of confidence. Some blokes like Errol just walk in and go I got this. Maybe it’s a bit of a personality thing, and a bit to do with not having a secure spot, but Campbell at times wasn’t as willing to impose himself. Not as jittery as poor Dylan Stephens became, but still.

To do what he did last night, and hear Papley say after the game that Campbell had made the difference, will hopefully see him zoom on from here. He’s now got the confidence of his coach and his teammates. And he’s got the assets. Fingers crossed as he’s such a weapon.

If he hits the contests as hard as he did last night when he came on more consistently in coming years, he will become the superstar that his talent suggests he can become. Was absolutely terrific - and I hope last night is the 'light bulb' moment where, in amongst difficult emotions, he realises he can truly belong at AFL level.

[imuninformedtwo]

Remarkable composure from such a young person to be able to work through those emotions, deal with what I am sure is a lot of building additional anxiety sitting as the sub whilst your team is getting beaten around a bit, then come on and play the way he did. A truly impressive display of resilience.

Yep. I’ve always wanted Campbell to succeed and thought he’d eventually get there, but he also seemed a player who needed a real injection of confidence. Some blokes like Errol just walk in and go I got this. Maybe it’s a bit of a personality thing, and a bit to do with not having a secure spot, but Campbell at times wasn’t as willing to impose himself. Not as jittery as poor Dylan Stephens became, but still.

To do what he did last night, and hear Papley say after the game that Campbell had made the difference, will hopefully see him zoom on from here. He’s now got the confidence of his coach and his teammates. And he’s got the assets. Fingers crossed as he’s such a weapon.

[imuninformedtwo]

And seemed to quickly check on him, too. I watch most Giants games, Buckley comes across as a good sportsman.

Heeney said after the game that Buckley did check on him. I don’t like the Giants, but terrific sportsmanship.

[neilfws]

Ratings from the Mongrel Punt. I don't agree with all of them, but some interesting thoughts.

https://themongrelpunt.com/afl-season-2024/2024/09/08/player-ratings-sydney-v-gws-qualifying-final/

[Meg]

How do you post photos on the new platform pls?

I suggest try the camera icon at the top / bottom.

[Hotpotato]

How do you post photos on the new platform pls?

[neilfws]

A great comeback, a great win, an unbelievable SCG atmosphere at the end of the game. The definition of "found a way to win".

Campbell - turned the game in my opinion, alongside Heeney. Two great performances. And the deficit could have been much worse without heroic efforts from Melican.

It will certainly be a great booster in terms of belief, and now two weeks off to recover, reflect, choose the squad and work on a few areas.

Just looked at the stats - more even, and a few more in favour of the Swans - than I would have anticipated, watching the game. For three-quarters it felt like GWS were winning more out of the middle, moving the ball more cleanly, marking more inside 50 and running much quicker. Just goes to show how huge the last quarter was for the Swans.

Am I confident that we have a potentially GF-winning team based on all four quarters yesterday - I'm not sure. Am I happy, hell yes.