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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Scott Heinrich

AFL 2021 round three: Scintillating Swans stun Richmond - as it happened

John Longmire congratulates Sam Wicks
Sydney coach John Longmire congratulates Sam Wicks, one of the Swans’ youngsters to impress in the victory over Richmond at the MCG. Photograph: Hamish Blair/AAP

Summary

Despite coming into this contest undefeated, Sydney were given little chance at the home ground of a team chasing a fourth premiership in five seasons. But the Swans leave the MCG with a brand new standing in the game after dismantling Richmond in a performance that will put the entire competition on notice that there is a new contender in town.

If the Tigers were ready for Sydney’s newfound gameplan built around fast, direct ball movement, it did not show. The Swans started with a rush and they finished with a rush; at no point were Richmond able to deal with Sydney’s strength in the contest, rapid passing and intense pressure. The Swans’ dominance was best displayed in the second quarter, when they booted eight goals to three and seemingly found targets inside-50 as they pleased.

Sydney’s stalwarts figured prominently - Tom Papley (four goals), Josh Kennedy, Sam Reid and Luke Parker all had good days - but the key takeout of this stunning triumph was the continuing development of the Swans’ gang of youth. Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden: these men, and others not much older, took it up to Richmond from the first bounce and did not let up. Nevermind looking too far into the future; these young Swans are doing the business right now.

This was an uncharacteristically tepid performance from Richmond, who with a record of 2-1 for the season have no need to panic. But they were shown up today by a hungrier, younger and faster outfit. The Tigers’ zone defence was mostly toothless in the face of a barrage of bullet-like inside-50s and, worse still, the famed Richmond pressure was no match for Sydney’s intensity. The Tigers were outworked and worked over on their home patch. We are a long way from September but questions will be asked, internally and externally, after a result that will send shockwaves through the entire league.

Updated

FT: Sydney 17-15 (117) beat Richmond 10-12 (72)

An emphatic win and a real statement from this young Sydney team. The Swans started the match strongly and they finished it the same way. Against the supposed benchmark of the competition, at Richmond’s home ground, this was as impressive as it gets.

Q4: 1 min remaining: Richmond 10-12 (72) vs Sydney 17-15 (117) Goal! McDonald bags his second, kicking truly with his angled set shot. Sydney’s band of youth get around their fellow youngster. A big win. A glimpse into the future if ever there was one.

Q4: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 10-12 (72) vs Sydney 16-15 (111) Heeney crumbs the ball off the pack and looks sure to place the cherry on top, but he ... hits the post. Another poster! Nine? Ten? I can’t recall so many in one match.

Q4: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 10-12 (72) vs Sydney 16-14 (110) Papley crumbs the ball well inside-50 and looks sure to pull the trigger, but he thinks better of it in traffic and instead chip-passes to Warner. The passage really should result in a goal but he misses from not very far out. Some tired bodies out there.

Q4: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 10-12 (72) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) More pleasing ball movement by Richmond - where was this earlier on? - ends up in the hands of Lynch, who wins his one-on-one but can’t finish the job, his shot from close range missing to the right.

Q4: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 10-11 (71) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) Goal! Three in a row for the Tigers. Rioli wins a free for holding-the-ball and kicks truly from directly in front. The cue looks to be in the rack for Sydney.

Q4: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 9-11 (65) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) Lynch now drops back and takes a nice contested mark in defence. The Tigers work the ball forward and Caddy looks like he’s kicked a certain goal, only for Hickey to get his fingers on the ball right on the goal line.

Q4: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 9-10 (64) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) Goal! Lynch gets out the back and gets on the end of a nice pass from Castagna, taking an uncontested mark and playing on for an easy goal. Better from Richmond these past five minutes but it’s too little, too late.

Q4: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 8-10 (58) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) Another poster! The seventh of the day? Eighth? Bolton is the transgressor this time, his set shot clunking into the right upright.

Q4: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 8-9 (57) vs Sydney 16-13 (109) McIntosh looks in some trouble here. He and Rampe collide near the middle of the ground, but with the Tigers player lower to the ground he wears most of the impact around his head region. Thankfully a stretcher isn’t needed but he looks done for the day. Didn’t look much in it from Rampe’s perspective but it was a bump that will be looked at. Nothing surer.

Q4: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 8-9 (57) vs Sydney 16-12 (108) Another shot on goal for Wicks but he’ll have to wait for his fourth of the day as his attempt from range, and angle, falls short. At the other end, Wicks then helps win Sydney a turnover as Richmond are made to pay for a series of handling errors.

Q4: 18 mins remaining: Richmond 8-9 (57) vs Sydney 16-12 (108) Goal! Quick reply from Richmond as Rioli shows his smarts around goal. Another nine or 10 and we’ll have a game on our hands.

Q4: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 7-9 (51) vs Sydney 16-12 (108) Goal! Normal service is resumed. Sydney win an easy centre clearance, Baker goes missing on Papley and the on-fire forward pounces on a loose ball before getting the quarter under way with his fourth goal, a beautiful snap from 35 metres out.

3QT: Richmond 7-9 (51) vs Sydney 15-12 (102)

Five goals to three in Sydney’s favour that term, so on paper better from a Richmond perspective, but in reality it was another period of dominance for the Swans. Sydney have announced themselves today - they have been so good - but damningly for Richmond, their effort has been poor. Go missing in the last quarter, and this could get uglier than it already is.

Q3: 1 min remaining: Richmond 7-9 (51) vs Sydney 15-12 (102) Goal! Riewoldt readies himself for a left-footed set-shot snap - one that normally he would gobble up - but he can do no better than hit the post. Sydney can’t clear the ball, however, and Aarts shows his teammates how it’s done, repelling more than one tackle in heavy traffic to snap a handy goal.

Q3: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 6-8 (44) vs Sydney 15-11 (101) Goal! McDonald brings the ball to ground from a 50-50 contest inside-50, knocking the ball into the path of Papley - who dribbles through a signature goal from the pocket. This is rather too easy. No pressure at all from the Tigers.

Q3: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 6-8 (44) vs Sydney 14-11 (95) Goal! Rampe climbs on the ball and is penalised, but from Riewoldt’s inside-50 Sydney mop up with ridiculous ease. And Cotchin gives a away a 50-metre penalty to boot. The Swans, virtually unopposed, work the ball forward to Heeney, who curls his left-foot set shot through the big sticks from a tough angle on the boundary. It’s hard to tell if Richmond are actually here. They’ll need an absentee slip at this rate.

Q3: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 6-8 (44) vs Sydney 13-11 (89) Sensational tackle by Florent nullifies a Richmond attacking foray but this time the Swans are more methodical moving the ball forward. When the trigger is pulled, McDonald very nearly gets his hands on a contested mark from a long ball to the square. But he can’t hang on and Richmond rebound.

Q3: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 6-7 (43) vs Sydney 13-11 (89) Goal! Nankervis has a certain mark knocked out of his hands by Reid - that really was a mark - and from the resultant ball forward Wicks slots one through from directly in front. Tigers fans not happy. Nor should they be. But that is just one of many reasons for discontent today. Young Wicks is having a day out.

Q3: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 6-7 (43) vs Sydney 12-11 (83) Goal! Now it’s Sydney’s turn to fumble under pressure. The ball finds its way to Lynch, in company but very close to goal. A major looms but Lynch, well, he has an airy with a handpass attempt. You don’t see that often. But the key forward shrugs aside that comedic error to convert a tough chance from a subsequent out-on-the-full free kick.

Q3: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 5-7 (37) vs Sydney 12-11 (83) Lynch has another set shot but misses to the right. And the Swans make no mistake when they gain possession, transitioning from defence with ease only for Wicks to hit the post with his set shot on goal. Is that six posters for the day? There’s been a few.

Q3: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 12-10 (82) Goal! That’s two for Hickey on the back of pretty lax defending from Richmond. Nankervis concedes a free from the hitout and Sydney find Hickey after what can only be described as a chain of training drill passes. Richmond defenders nowhere to be seen. Very, very poor.

Q3: 18 mins remaining: Richmond 5-6 (36) vs Sydney 11-10 (76) Goal! Richmond finally win a centre clearance and finally take a grab inside-50 as Lynch plucks a strong contested mark and kicks truly. The Tigers will need more of the same.

Q3: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 4-6 (30) vs Sydney 11-10 (76) Goal! More of the same from Sydney. Deep inside Sydney’s forward 50, Caddy pushes Parker in the back, gives away a free and then gives away a 50-metre penalty after retaliating to a bit of niggle from Reid. Poor discipline. If Richmond wished to start the quarter brightly, they failed.

HT: Richmond 4-6 (30) vs Sydney 10-10 (70)

Astounding stuff. Eight goals in a quarter of footy against the champs. Sydney’s pressure and irrepressible ball movement are making Richmond, the two-time reigning premiers, look slow and second rate. Sydney are winning the ball out of the middle and attacking with such speed and intent that Richmond’s zone defence is being exposed. The Tigers are better than this. They will need to prove it in the second half against a young outfit who have played them out of their comfort zone.

Updated

Q2: 0 seconds remaining: Richmond 4-6 (30) vs Sydney 10-10 (70) Goal! In the dying seconds of the half, with Sydney again thrusting forward, Wicks wins a free kick for obstruction. The Tigers defenders are not happy but it’s of no use as the young forward converts his set shot to make it eight goals in a remarkable quarter of footy by the Swans.

Q2: 1 min remaining: Richmond 4-6 (30) vs Sydney 9-10 (64) Goal! That’s seven in the quarter for Sydney! The Swans move the ball with haste out of their back 50 and essentially catch Richmond napping with their ball movement. The ball zips inside-50, Sydney’s forwards have space and McDonald is the recipient as the youngster dribbles one through to cap a huge quarter for the visitors.

Updated

Q2: 1 min remaining: Richmond 4-6 (30) vs Sydney 8-10 (58) Goal! Goal! The Swans kick two goals in a minute, winning the ball out of the middle and cutting Richmond’s zone to shreds. First, Heeney wins a holding free and snaps truly before Warner burst out of the centre of the ground, shrugs a tackle and kicks a long-range goal on the run that he’ll dine on for years to come. Sydney strangling the Tigers here.

Q2: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 4-5 (29) vs Sydney 6-10 (46) Goal! And Richmond punish Sydney on the turnover as a long ball inside-50 finds two Tigers forwards on their lonesome, Castagna winning a free for front-on contact and playing on en route to goal.

Q2: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 3-5 (23) vs Sydney 6-9 (45) Swans everywhere. And it’s Wicks again who centres the ball from half-forward only for McDonald to turn the ball over when he should have lined up for goal.

Q2: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 3-5 (23) vs Sydney 6-9 (45) Goal! Wicks presents Reid with what should be a simple mark inside-50 but the forward spills the uncontested chance. Richmond hurry the ball forward but concede a 50-metre ‘man on the mark’ penalty, leading to Wicks finding himself on the end of a bullet pass before converting with his set shot from 40 metres out. Good response by Sydney.

Q2: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 3-5 (23) vs Sydney 5-8 (38) Goal! Sydney with the immediate reply as Parker goes long from centre wing and McLean drills his set shot after outmarking Grimes.

Q2: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 3-5 (23) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Martin again influential in the middle of the park as a long ball forward is scrapped for by a host of players before Castagna gets his hands on the Sherrin and snaps a major from 20 metres out. Such is the power of this Richmond outfit - they have been dominated but are only nine points down.

Q2: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 2-5 (17) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Goal! Richmond finally get some time and space, and Martin at last has a meaningful impact on the game to find Lambert inside before Riewoldt marks strongly on the lead and kicks truly. My, did Richmond need that.

Q2: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 1-5 (11) vs Sydney 4-8 (32) Two more shots from Sydney, two more behinds - firstly, Blakey on the run, and then McDonald from a standing start 40 metres out. Both were kickable and Sydney are doing almost as they please right now.

Q2: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 1-5 (11) vs Sydney 4-6 (30) Richmond work the ball forward but it is far more measured than Sydney’s movement with the Sherrin. But their forward pressure is just as good, leading to a rushed Swans kick landing out on the full. Caddy finds himself with a shot on goal from a tough angle. His checkside looks wonderful off the boot but a behind is the result as the ball cannons off the right post.

Q2: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 1-4 (10) vs Sydney 4-6 (30) Goal! Another inside-50 for Sydney and yet again it’s a hot ball in the left pocket. Lambert loses his cool, slinging Papley in a tackle and pays the price as the Swans forward bends his snap back between the uprights.

Q2: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 1-4 (10) vs Sydney 3-6 (24) Goal! Manic, incredible forward pressure from Sydney gives Richmond no chance of clearing the ball as Warner collects the crumbs and snaps truly in traffic directly in front. If you have an answer to this, Richmond, now is the time to speak up.

Q2: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 1-3 (9) vs Sydney 2-6 (18) Sydney start the second quarter as they played the first: winning the ball out of the middle, penetrating the arc and ... missing a set shot. This time Wicks is the culprit, and he really should have done better.

QT: Richmond 1-3 (9) vs Sydney 2-5 (17)

A much-needed goal late in the quarter papered over some cracks for Richmond, who were outplayed by Sydney in the opening exchanges of the match. The Swans are winning the ball from stoppages, leading clearances 7-2, and are well on top in inside-50s. The Swans have moved the ball well but have been wasteful in front of goal. Dion Prestia is done for the game, having injured his right hamstring.

Updated

Q1: 1 min remaining: Richmond 1-3 (9) vs Sydney 2-5 (17) Goal! Riewoldt sends his shot on goal flying high and wide out of bounds but Edwards soon wins possession and makes no mistake. Early days, but the Tigers needed that one. Then, with barely seconds before the quarter-time siren, the same man has a set shot to make it two in a minute, only to see his attempt miss to the right.

Q1: 1 min remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 2-5 (17) Goal! Finally. The Swans rush the footy through the middle and find Hickey on his lonesome inside-50. The ruckman leans back, follows through from 40 metres out and splits the big sticks with a lovely, straight drop punt. Prestia has been subbed out of the game. Rioli on for the Tigers. Not sure yet the nature of the injury. Hamstring maybe.

Updated

Q1: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 1-5 (11) Castagna has a shot on goal but it’s under heavy pressure and there’s no early celebration in his 100th game as the ball flies out on the full. Sydney go forward and look for McDonald again but Richmond mop up only to commit skill errors under pressure. The chain of events leads to Reid having another shot on goal, this time a snap, but again the Swans hit the post! Little reward for effort so far. And the Swans are right on top.

Q1: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 1-4 (10) Ooooooh! Controversial free kick. Foraging around close to goal, Heeney loses the ball in the first tackle and is handed a free kick for holding-the-man in the second. Rough on the Tigers tackler. Still, Heeney can’t make Richmond pay as his shot from not very far, from not much of an angle, hits the right post.

Q1: 9 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 1-3 (9) Another inside-50 for Sydney and another set shot, but Reid butchers his chance to put some space between the two teams as his attempt misses the lot. The Swans must, absolutely must, do better than that with their chances today. That said, this is a really bright start to the game by Sydney. Richmond not up to speed yet. Yet.

Q1: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 1-3 (9) Goal! Better and more precise from Sydney. First, McDonald misses a set shot but Papley then wins a free kick for high contact and makes no mistake from 30 metres out on a slight angle.

Q1: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 0-2 (2) Lots of room for Richmond on centre wing as McIntosh and Castagna combine, but the Tigers fumble under pressure, then Sydney fumble under pressure, as the ball ricochets between the half-forward lines for a while. It’s a hot footy right now.

Q1: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 0-2 (2) The ball slingshots down to Richmond’s attacking end. Lynch sends a long fall forward to Martin, who looks to be held, but the umpire waves play on and we are yet to see our first major.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 0-2 (2) Gulden shows up on the forward flank but his entry inside-50 is long and high to the square. Richmond enjoy the outnumber, and have height advantage, and the ball is rushed through for a behind.

Q1: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 0-2 (2) vs Sydney 0-1 (1) Bolton fluffs a gilt-edged marking chance inside-50. Sydney work the ball away and they’re not messing about but the Tigers are well positioned in the corridor. McIntosh getting his hands on the ball early. Papley has a rushed shot on goal but misses his snap to the right.

Q1: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 0-1 (1) vs Sydney 0-0 (0) And we’re away. Dusty lines up in the middle, not full forward. Early clearance for Sydney but Richmond rebound with 100-gamer Castagna influential. Lynch has a shot on goal but misses to the left.

Not long now. Cotchin wins the toss. Tigers kicking to the right of screen.

Easter Saturday, MCG, glorious weather, two unbeaten teams.

Doesn’t get much better than this.

Swans fans would love to see history repeating. Since that memorable 2017 win, it’s been lean pickings indeed against the mighty Tigers.

The less said about last year’s “horrendous” meeting the better ...

Happy 100th, Jase. Fair to say you’ve fit in more than most in that time.

Ahoy, 20CNS. Good luck with the move. Few things in life as stressful as that. I haven’t joined the tipping comp. I fear I may be too late?

I’m guessing Don Pyke has had a considerable influence on Sydney’s playing style in his short time alongside John Longmire in the coaches’ box. The AFL’s new rules have had their say, no doubt, but there is something reminiscent of the Crows circa 2016/2017 about the way the Swans are going about their business.

Here’s what the former Adelaide coach has to say ahead of this afternoon’s encounter.

Beautiful, hot conditions in Melbourne for this clash. And seeing fans flock back to the MCG still hasn’t got tired.

No late team changes

Richmond

B: David Astbury, Noah Balta, Dylan Grimes
HB: Liam Baker, Nathan Broad, Jayden Short
C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Trent Cotchin, Marlion Pickett
HF: Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards, Jason Castagna
F: Tom J. Lynch, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt
FOLL: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert
I/C: Jake Aarts, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Jack Graham, Josh Caddy
Sub: Daniel Rioli

Sydney

B: Harry Cunningham, Tom McCartin, Jordan Dawson
HB: Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Braeden Campbell
C: Oliver Florent, Luke Parker, Nick Blakey
HF: Errol Gulden, Hayden McLean, Isaac Heeney
F: Sam Wicks, Logan McDonald, Sam Reid
FOLL: Tom Hickey, Callum Mills, Chad Warner
I/C: George Hewett, Josh P. Kennedy, Justin McInerney, Tom Papley
Sub: James Bell

Preamble

Hello and welcome to all. Richmond versus Sydney might not have held much appeal when the AFL fixture was released - or as recently as three weeks ago, for that matter - but thanks to the Swans’ impressive start to the season this clash now enjoys match-of-the-round status. Apologies, Port Adelaide and West Coast fans. You run a close second.

Richmond are all class. This we have known for some time and there is no shock to their 2-0 start to the season. Sydney, however, have been the good-news story in the fledgling rounds of the 2021 season. They might have been expected to improve on their lowly 2020 finish but thus far the Swans have exceeded expectations; on the limited evidence to date, they look every inch a finals team. Wins over Brisbane and Adelaide were both full of merit and Sydney are now doing in with panache, moving the ball from defence to attack with a gung-ho alacrity reflective of their youthful list. There will be an even greater reliance on the club’s youngsters today, with Lance Franklin rested following just one game back from a long lay-off.

The Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will provide a good guide to exactly where Sydney are at, however. It’s as tough an assignment as there is in the AFL and after two comfortable victories there is no suggestion Dustin Martin and company are lacking hunger as they chase a fourth flag in five seasons.

Fingers crossed for a close game. If you’d like to get involved, leave a comment below or send me an email or tweet @scott_heinrich

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