Round 1 – Gold Coast Suns v Sydney: Strong win for Swans

 

Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans – Saturday 18th March at 7pm at Metricon Stadium

 

So another season has arrived with all the expectations of success and the anxiety that it brings.  My Swans have headed north to play the Suns.  Much has already been said about a possible Grand Final hangover caused by our thumping by Premiers, the Cats.  However, 2022 was substantially a great year for a very young and emerging group of players.  Also under question is the decision of our 1,000 goal champion, Buddy Franklin to go on for his 10th year at the Swans and 19th overall. Is one more year for the 36 year old forward asking too much? Will he play every game? What’s a reasonable return?

 

We enter the field in our traditional old red vee jumper on white with white shorts.  It’s a joyful sight for an old South Melbourne fan.  The lads are wearing black arm bands in honour of our former champion Barry Round who passed away in recent months. Roundy was our captain when the club moved north just over 40 years ago. The lack of resources and facilities at the time have been well documented.  Round was fundamental to the survival of the club rallying his troops under adversity. Much has been made of the Bloods culture which was said to have emerged in the Roos era of the early 2000s.  However, surely the resilience of the club is founded on the efforts of Round and others of his time. Thanks Roundy!

 

The Gold Coast Suns have been our nemesis of late, with several upset wins.  And surely now in their 13th season in the competition they are due to emerge as contenders.  However two questions are answered quickly.  The Swans start with pressure, run and precision and have 5 goals up quickly, the first two from Buddy who looks fit and firing. Our wunderkind Chad Warner and Errol Gulden seem to have hit the ground with even more energy and desire then last season. Heeney and Papley are roaming the forward line causing havoc.

 

Late in to the quarter and in to the second the Suns gain composure with three unanswered goals to draw within 14 points.  They are matching our intensity.   The second quarter is somewhat of an arm wrestle in the slippery conditions caused by the hot and humid conditions.  The Swans steady with several goals, one to Harry Cunningham released from the backline to play a defensive forward role, and go to the break 29 points up.

 

Upon the restart the Swans ramp up the pressure with constant tackling, moving the ball forward with deft knock ons by hand and foot.  Ladhams competes manfully in the ruck against the Suns gallant co-captain Witts, while Rampe rallies a superb backline that lets little through.  It’s a six goal to three quarter in our favour with the goals evenly spread around.  Dylan Stephens is playing his best game to date for the club.  Now in to his fourth season perhaps he will realise the expectations of being a high draft selection.  Likewise young Campbell looks comfortable down back linking plays with his superb left foot.  Eight goals up at the final break the game is done and dusted.

 

The Suns even up the last quarter with three goals to each team.  All players are exhausted in the sapping conditions.  Its junk time except for a careless bump from Buddy that leaves his opponent Collins stunned and off for a concussion test.  Looks like Bud will get a break sooner in the season then perhaps all expected.

 

The Swans have looked sharp, intense and skilled, the Suns very disappointing.  It’s been an even performance with contributions from the usual suspects, including Parker, Mills and Lloyd.  I subsequently sleep well, this game has not been one to induce anxiety.

 

Warner is best on ground.  Could he be a Brownlow contender in just his fourth season?

 

My votes:  3. Warner 2. Rampe 1. Gulden

 

GOLD COAST             2.1       3.2       6.4       9.7 (61)
SYDNEY                      5.4       7.7       13.10  16.14 (110) 

 

GOALS
Gold Coast:
 Flanders 2, Ainsworth 2, Swallow, King, Holman, Jeffrey, Anderson
Sydney: Papley 2, Franklin 2, McDonald 2, Cunningham 2, Stephens, Mills, McLean, Lloyd, Heeney, Hayward, Gulden, Florent

 

BEST
Gold Coast:
 Witts, Rowell, Long, Ainsworth
Sydney: Rampe, Warner, Stephens, Papley, Gulden, Lloyd

 

INJURIES
Gold Coast:
 Collins (head)
Sydney: Nil

 

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast:
 Brayden Fiorini (replaced Levi Casboult in the third quarter)
Sydney: Matt Roberts (replaced Peter Ladhams in the fourth quarter)

 

Crowd: 13,648 at Heritage Bank Stadium

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

About Keiran Croker

Keiran is a lifelong Swans supporter, despite a brief dalliance with the Cats and Tigers in primary school years. Family connections to Port Melbourne and South Melbourne demanded loyalty to the Swans. The long wait for success was worth it.

Leave a Comment

*