SYDNEY 15.12 (102) d COLLINGWOOD 10.9 (69)
Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies passes is tackled by James Rowbottom of the Swans.Credit score: Getty Photographs
KEY POINTS
IS THIS A PREMIERSHIP HANGOVER? This can be a query that’s certain to be fiercely debated till the Pies wake from their early season slumber. A hangover implies the Pies over-celebrated their premiership success on the expense of making ready for the season. At face worth, the optics don’t look nice.
To have two meek losses comply with the discharge of a film into their premiership provides to the narrative. So to the unfurling of a flag earlier than a 33-point loss. The margin, like final week, flattered the Pies.
This aspect included 19 members of their grand closing aspect from final yr, so reinforcements alone is not going to make up the numerous hole between the Pies and their rivals.
Other than Nick Daicos and Darcy Cameron, there have been few different Pies to reinforce their reputations over the primary two rounds.
The Swans’ potential to run the ball via the Pies’ defensive system shall be a priority for Craig McRae, who watched the Giants do the identical factor final week.
Nor are they taking part in with the starvation they confirmed final yr after they had not tasted the candy style of champagne from the premiership cup.
If there was a play that confirmed the gulf in depth, it got here within the second time period when Robbie Fox, outnumbered one to a few, attacked the ball within the air with extra gusto than his opponents to kill the competition.
It’s solely two weeks in however the Pies, as Geelong did final yr, begin their defence with two losses. The one saving grace is they might have come throughout the 2 finest sides within the league. They’ve loads of work to do.
New territory: The footy hits the MCG Spidercam.Credit score: Channel Seven
SPIDERCAM: There was excessive drama throughout second quarter when Errol Gulden’s lengthy kick inside 50 hit Spidercam. The contact affected the trajectory of the ball, the drop favouring Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard. It allowed the Pies to win the bottom ball and ferry the ball to the opposite finish although, fortuitously for the AFL, it didn’t result in a rating. The AFL is pleased with how the umpires dealt with the incident. The rules say if the umpire sees the contact they need to name a ball-up, however as they didn’t play on was the right name. One might say Spidercam had extra influence on the sport than the Pies’ defence, coming amid a run of 5 unanswered objectives for the Swans.
Sydney’s Isaac Heeney kicks towards Collingwood.Credit score: Getty Photographs
HEENEY’S TIME HAS COME: That is shaping because the yr the place Isaac Heeney can go from a participant who often hits the heights of the perfect to a bona fide elite footballer. With Lance Franklin retired, Heeney is now the Swans’ pin-up participant, and taking part in like a person who enjoys being the face of the membership.
Pretty much as good as he has been in his 178 video games, Heeney has performed his finest soccer as a ahead however is relishing elevated publicity within the midfield. These are alternatives he might not have had if the midfield grunt of Callum Mills, Luke Parker and Taylor Adams had been accessible.
Although not a famous clearance participant, Heeney had 13 clearances towards the Demons, and was once more a key determine on the within with 18 contested possessions and a objective towards the Pies.
It’s a large ask to anticipate him to turn out to be the dominant participant Dustin Martin was at his peak, however there isn’t a purpose why he can not play the same function for the Swans as a ball-winning midfielder who can kick near 40 objectives.
Within the first two weeks, Heeney has been a central determine in a younger Swans midfield which appears to be like more durable and stronger than the unit susceptible to being bullied by bigger-bodied on-ball brigades since their coming of age in 2021.
The query for John Longmire shall be how he manages the returns of Parker and Adams within the coming weeks.
They may add additional midfield muscle however it might come on the expense of the slicker mixture they presently have with Heeney, Chad Warner and James Rowbottom.
Parker will present Longmire with the flexibleness of getting both he or Heeney to separate their time between the midfield and ahead line.