ID :
205047
Sat, 09/03/2011 - 16:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205047
The shortlink copeid
Swans crush Lions by 52 points in AFL
Sydney remain in the hunt for a home AFL final after a stellar second quarter lifted the Swans to a comfortable 52-point win over Brisbane in Saturday's twilight game at the SCG.
The Swans' 18.11 (119) to 9.13 (67) win means they are in sixth place on the ladder and will remain there if St Kilda, their opponents in the first week of the finals, lose to Carlton on Saturday night.
Regardless of the venue for next Saturday night's elimination final, the Swans should enter the game with a degree of confidence after piling on seven consecutive goals against the Lions in a 21-minute blitz during the second term.
However coach John Longmire will be nervously awaiting an injury update on key midfielder Ryan O'Keefe, who left the field late in the fourth term clutching his left shoulder after a jarring bump from former teammate Amon Buchanan.
After an unconvincing first quarter, where co-captain Adam Goodes stood tall with two goals, while far too many of his teammates made uncharacteristic errors, the hosts came to life.
By halftime, the Swans had opened up a 31-point advantage and the spark had essentially gone out of the contest.
Matt Spangher had one of his best games in the red and white, Goodes continued his scintillating late-season form with four goals and 29 disposals, while Jude Bolton also kicked four majors.
Perhaps the most courageous on the field was co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, who collected 22 possessions in his inspirational return to AFL - just a week-and-a-half after his four-week-old daughter Luella died from a heart condition.
To their credit, the Lions worked hard to ensure the lead didn't blow out.
They even won the third quarter by one point, but a shock upset never looked likely after their initial resistance was crushed.
Neither side was able to take control in a scrappy first quarter that was marred by a series of clangers, with the hosts turning the ball over on 12 occasions and Brisbane handing over possession 11 times.
In the end, it was a spectacular goal from James Hawksley - who threaded the ball through an acute angle from the boundary line - that helped the Lions grab a surprise six-point lead at the first break.
Not to be outdone, Gary Rohan put in an even more unbelievable nomination for goal of the day - snapping truly from a similar position to Hawksley while being bumped off balance in the second term.
Rohan kicked two of Sydney's eight goals in the second term, and his other was arguably just as memorable - however for all the wrong reasons.
Lions youngster Mitch Golby, bereft of confidence much like his team after the avalanche of goals, was unable to complete a regulation pass in the backline and Rohan goaled after marking the ball on his chest.
Golby's gaffe was perhaps the most striking, but he was not alone in a performance that arguably mirrored Brisbane's season of woe - a smattering of potential but too many lapses and too few contributors.
Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger finished his impressive season with a personal victory over in-form Swans counterpart Shane Mumford while Daniel Rich, who missed much of this season with a foot injury, battled gamely.
The Swans' 18.11 (119) to 9.13 (67) win means they are in sixth place on the ladder and will remain there if St Kilda, their opponents in the first week of the finals, lose to Carlton on Saturday night.
Regardless of the venue for next Saturday night's elimination final, the Swans should enter the game with a degree of confidence after piling on seven consecutive goals against the Lions in a 21-minute blitz during the second term.
However coach John Longmire will be nervously awaiting an injury update on key midfielder Ryan O'Keefe, who left the field late in the fourth term clutching his left shoulder after a jarring bump from former teammate Amon Buchanan.
After an unconvincing first quarter, where co-captain Adam Goodes stood tall with two goals, while far too many of his teammates made uncharacteristic errors, the hosts came to life.
By halftime, the Swans had opened up a 31-point advantage and the spark had essentially gone out of the contest.
Matt Spangher had one of his best games in the red and white, Goodes continued his scintillating late-season form with four goals and 29 disposals, while Jude Bolton also kicked four majors.
Perhaps the most courageous on the field was co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, who collected 22 possessions in his inspirational return to AFL - just a week-and-a-half after his four-week-old daughter Luella died from a heart condition.
To their credit, the Lions worked hard to ensure the lead didn't blow out.
They even won the third quarter by one point, but a shock upset never looked likely after their initial resistance was crushed.
Neither side was able to take control in a scrappy first quarter that was marred by a series of clangers, with the hosts turning the ball over on 12 occasions and Brisbane handing over possession 11 times.
In the end, it was a spectacular goal from James Hawksley - who threaded the ball through an acute angle from the boundary line - that helped the Lions grab a surprise six-point lead at the first break.
Not to be outdone, Gary Rohan put in an even more unbelievable nomination for goal of the day - snapping truly from a similar position to Hawksley while being bumped off balance in the second term.
Rohan kicked two of Sydney's eight goals in the second term, and his other was arguably just as memorable - however for all the wrong reasons.
Lions youngster Mitch Golby, bereft of confidence much like his team after the avalanche of goals, was unable to complete a regulation pass in the backline and Rohan goaled after marking the ball on his chest.
Golby's gaffe was perhaps the most striking, but he was not alone in a performance that arguably mirrored Brisbane's season of woe - a smattering of potential but too many lapses and too few contributors.
Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger finished his impressive season with a personal victory over in-form Swans counterpart Shane Mumford while Daniel Rich, who missed much of this season with a foot injury, battled gamely.
