The Sydney Swans have defeated Brisbane by 44 points at the SCG after ruthlessly taking full advantage of the visitors’ weakened squad.
The Swans will face a nervous wait on the status of star midfielder Errol Gulden, who went down clutching his shoulder after a tackle in the fourth quarter and sat out the rest of the game wearing a sling. Isaac Heeney was also similarly removed from the game in the last term as a precaution with a tight hamstring.
Charlie Curnow of the Swans in action during the round one AFL match between Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions at Sydney Cricket GroundCredit: Getty Images
Despite the concerning status of Gulden’s shoulder and to a lesser extent, Heeney’s hamstring, the Swans could look back with satisfaction on a performance that included forward Joel Amartey kicking five goals against Brisbane and racing into a lead of 53 points in the third quarter that provided an ample cushion.
Twenty years ago, the phrase “tiki taka” was coined to celebrate FC Barcelona’s irrepressible and rapid ball movement with Lionel Messi at its heart. At the SCG, the Swans’ Riley Bice performed his own unique tribute act in the AFL in the first half.
The Swans kicked ten goals in the first half, with Bice being involved in six of them. The defender finished the game with 27 disposals, adding another chapter to a remarkable story, given he was working on an Albury building site just two years ago.
Brisbane arrived in Sydney with 17 players unavailable through a combination of suspension and injury, including three of last year’s All-Australian selections, Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey.
James Tunstill of the Lions is tackled by Errol Gulden of the Swans.Credit: Getty Images
Andrews’ absence was perhaps most keenly felt, with Brisbane undersized, undermanned and inexperienced in defence. Veteran Ryan Lester took on the Swans star forward Charlie Curnow and held him goalless, but it simply left more space for others, with Heeney and Logan McDonald finishing with two majors each.
Last Thursday, in their opening round victory against Carlton, the Swans had been sloppy in defence and out-fought in the midfield in the first half, before returning with a remarkable 12-goal third quarter to take charge of the game.