Young Swans ruckman Darcy Cameron has produced his best game of the season in another huge push for an AFL debut, inspiring Sydney to a 67-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The 22-year-old recorded 26 possessions, 33 hit-outs, 12 marks and three goals to lead the Swans to a sixth win on the trot in a 15.17 (107) to 6.4 (40) victory.
Swans development coach Tadhg Kennelly touted Suns big men Peter Wright and Brayden Crossley as “genuine AFL ruckmen” ahead of the game.
But Cameron held his own against the star duo as Sydney climbed from fourth to third on the ladder in the Round 11 fixture.
The 204-centimetre giant kicked two of his three goals in the fourth term but the Swans blazed the trail for victory in the third in ploughing to six goals to the Suns’ zero.
Although exceptional from the stoppages and quick and clean in their ball movement in the third quarter, the Swans threatened to take a bigger lead into the final change but kicked 6.5.
Midfielder Daniel Robinson collected a game-high 37 touches (19 contested) and 14 clearances in another push to build on the three senior games he’s played this season, while third-year Swan Colin O’Riordan posted 33 disposals and nine marks in another rock-solid display in defence.
Nic Newman starred in a return of 31 possessions and a game-high nine inside 50s in an outstanding performance between defence and the midfield, and forward James Rose finished with 17 touches and three goals as he continued to enjoy a rich vein of form.
The South Australian was the pick of the lot in Sydney’s win over the Redland Bombers last Saturday in a performance marked with 35 disposals and three majors.
Alex Johnson and Jordan Dawson had made successful returns from injury over Sydney’s two previous games and young midfielder Jordan Foote followed suit in the match with Gold Coast.
The QBE Sydney Swans Academy product played his first game since Round 1 in a return from a toe injury and tallied 14 touches.
Gold Coast big man Wright kicked the opening two goals of the game to get the Suns off to a strong start, but the Swans would work their way into the game and take a three-point lead into quarter-time.
Sydney took a 19-point buffer into the main break before opening the floodgates in its six-goal-to-zero third-term blitz, before running in three majors to Gold Coast’s two in the final stanza.
AFL hopeful Dean Towers gathered 18 touches and two goals and buoyed the Swans in the midfield, forward line and the ruck.
On-baller Robbie Fox (28 disposals) also fired, while defender Ryley Stoddart collected 16 disposals and a goal and impressed with his trademark searing pace and sound football smarts.
Dawson finished with 15 possessions and a goal in his second game back from a long injury lay-off, while Johnson found 17 touches as the two Swans upped their game time.
A number of Academy stars again gave Swans fans reason to see excitement in the future, including midfielder Josh Stern who collected 18 disposals and a pair of goals.
Stern is staking his AFL claims on the road to November’s National Draft, as is Sam Wicks (14 touches, one goal).
The Swans are now set for a bye and will face the Brisbane Lions in a massive stoush at Blacktown International Sportspark in Round 13.
Sydney Swans 3.4 6.8 12.13 15.17 (107)
Gold Coast Suns 3.1 4.1 4.3 6.4 (40)
Goals – Sydney: D Cameron 3, J Rose 3, D Towers 2, J Stern 2, S Wicks, R Stoddart, B Stewart, J Dawson, M Rogers
