Don't miss any of the news involving the Swans as we bring you everything from the newspapers around the country on Friday 6th May, 2016.

Repairing structure the priority for Swans, says McVeigh
David Sygall
SMH, May 6

The Swans will show respect to the battling Bombers in Saturday's clash at the SCG, but their priority will be to focus on repairing the structural problems that nearly cost them a win over Brisbane.

Sydney prevailed narrowly over the Lions but their performance was below their self-imposed high standards. The fact that they're playing an emaciated Essendon should not come into the equation as they look to return to the form they showed through much of the first five rounds.

"A lot of our structure stuff that we've been really good at we didn't get right," co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said of what needed to improve from the Brisbane match.

"And then just around the contests they were harder than us and probably beat us around the ball, which is not something we're used to. But we'll rectify that this week. The midfield boys have been unbelievable for us this year, so I'm sure they'll get back to winning the footy this week."

Helping hand for clubs vital, says AFL NSW boss Graham
David Sygall
SMH, May 6

As the war of words escalated over the AFL’s assistance to Greater Western Sydney – topped off by Giants chairman Tony Shepherd’s threat to quit if recruiting zone rules were changed – the man charged with expanding the code in NSW says the growing quantity and quality of players being produced in the state is ‘‘a great problem to have’’.

AFL NSW-ACT boss Sam Graham believes it is too early to mess with policies that have only recently started to bear fruit. In contrast to the alarmist claims from Melbourne, spearheaded by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, Graham gave a measured reminder of why the concessions given to the expansion clubs were a vital element in the game’s bid to become truly national. And, the former Melbourne-based AFL executive highlighted the fact that a long road lies ahead before the objectives of the concession policies were realised.

Insiders at the two Sydney clubs believe Collingwood president Eddie McGuire’s view that the Giants’ list is ‘‘overcooked’’ and could ‘‘throw the competition out of kilter for the best part of 10 years’’ is less to do with the Giants’ big win over Hawthorn on Saturday and more an attempt to deflect attention from his own club’s poor form.

Either way, it has opened a debate about how much of a helping hand should be extended to the Giants and Gold Coast, in particular, and how far into the future those measures should be applied.

‘‘From 2005 to 2011 there was an average of about three players drafted out of the NSW and ACT region. Since the academies were established that number has doubled to about six per year,’’ Graham said. ‘‘We’ve seen there’s been an increase in quality as well. In 2015 we had four picks out of the top 20 versus a total of 13 top 20 picks in the previous 29-odd year history of the draft. It’s a great problem to have and it’s proving that the academies are working and are an important tool for the growth of the game in new markets.’’

Smith in for Swans, Giants field unchanged side against Dockers
David Sygall
SMH, May 6

The Swans have recalled All-Australian defender Nick Smith for their game against Essendon on Saturday but have opted to give speedster Gary Rohan at least another week in the reserves.

Smith missed Sydney’s threepoint win over Brisbane last week with an unspecified knee problem, but trained well this week and will line up in place of Aliir Aliir, who made his debut against the Lions.

Zak Jones, who had come into the side to replace Smith, has been retained. Smith’s return bolsters a back six missing the injured Ted Richards.

‘‘He’s a quality defender,’’ Longmire said. ‘‘It was a very late call last weekend. His knee just didn’t feel quite right. It settled down after a few days and he was able to do all of training and has pulled up really well.’’

A horror show for Victorians
Richard Hinds
Daily Telegraph, May 6











UNLESS you want a red-faced tirade about “AFL favouritism’’, “ludicrous draft concessions’’ or “bloody New South Wales academies’’, don’t mention this to your AFL-obsessed cousin in Melbourne.

But maybe — just maybe — we are on the verge of the first all-Sydney AFL grand final.

BOOOOOOM. That was the sound of Eddie McGuire’s head exploding.

Although even the Collingwood president’s fury would not drown out the howls of outrage that would greet the Swans and the Giants as they were paraded through the streets of Melbourne on Grand Final eve.

There was some discontent in Sydney when two Queensland clubs reached last year’s NRL grand final.

But after years of State of Origin dominance, the Broncos-Cowboys decider was widely accepted as another inevitable manifestation of Queensland’s rugby league excellence.

Should the Swans and Giants step simultaneously onto the AFL’s biggest stage, however, fans of struggling and success starved Victorian clubs will be up in arms.

Where the Swans premierships have been mostly admired for the Bloods ethos and the historic link with old South Melbourne, an all-Sydney Grand Final will incite accusations heartland clubs have been sold out in favour of the league’s northern ambitions.

Pridham returns fire over McGuire ‘rubbish’
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, May 6

SYDNEY Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has accused Eddie McGuire of talking garbage and cannot believe the Collingwood president continually gets away with it.

McGuire’s rift with the chairmen of Sydney’s two AFL clubs has widened this week and the gloves are well and truly off.

After a week of campaigning against the Giants from McGuire, initially over their academy zone of the Riverina and then by declaring them salary cap cheats, Pridham didn’t hold back.

“I can’t understand how someone in Eddie’s position can get away with talking complete, unmitigated rubbish,” Pridham said.

“The general attacks on the academies, saying we hate the Giants and we voted against the Giants’ introduction to the AFL and the Giants are salary cap cheats, are all just totally inappropriate.

“It’s wrong, it’s just not right. Eddie shouldn’t be able to get away with those things because they’re not true.

“They say stuff which isn’t true and they aren’t held to account for it. Then it’s reported as truth.”

Eddie McGuire’s fight against GWS, Swans ignores reality
Patrick Smith
The Australian, May 6

Eddie McGuire needs to be admired. He loves Collingwood, loves the AFL and he loves success. Which means he will fight for the welfare of all three.

A mental picture of McGuire has him on a horse, out in front of a big but timid herd with sword held high and menacingly. “Charge, charge, charge,” screams Eddie. Sometimes he is riding Black Caviar, other times he is on a donkey.

Right now he has hopped back on his horse to continue a cal­culated and desperate fight to rob the AFL teams in the northern market — mainly GWS and Sydney — of the potency of their academies and zones.

McGuire and a silent majority of Victorian clubs say it is unfair that these clubs get the pick of the fertile zones that produce an Isaac Heeney for the Swans or Jacob Hopper, a likely type, who is close to his debut for the Giants.

The Swans can draw young talent from their academy zone that runs from Coffs Harbour to Sydney. The Giants have the Riverina, which other clubs claim is too fertile in AFL talent to be fair.