The Sydney Swans VFL side have fallen agonisingly short against a highly-fancied Richmond outfit on Saturday afternoon, defeated by 6 points at Beaconsfield.
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It looked like a tough challenge for the young Swans against the fifth placed Tigers and the game started that way as Richmond put their foot down early and had all the scoring in the opening term (3.7) to the Swans one behind.
However the Swans soon kicked into gear in the second quarter with a flurry of goals to get right back in the game.
Matt Lloyd lighted the spark for the Swans in the second term and was awarded a free kick straight after he had kicked one goal which set Sydney into action.
Young Swan Jesse Dattoli put his name in the mix for a Goal of the Year nomination with a beauty from the boundary and ruck Will Green got the Swans within a goal late in the second with a long-range goal as Sydney booted five goals to two to round off the first half.
Unbelievable goal from Jesse Dattoli from the boundary line 😲😲 #VFL pic.twitter.com/tAPH8TYbl1
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) June 7, 2025
Caleb Mitchell was instrumental in the first half having, having 17 first half disposals before heading the MCG for emergency duties for the AFL game.
It was an even and hotly contested third quarter with both sides kicking two goals each and struggling for the upper hand but it was the Tigers who took a 10-point lead into the final break.
The Swans kept coming at the Tigers in the final term and when Matt Lloyd kicked his third as time on ticked over, Sydney saw their chance to steal it.
Sydney had their chances in the final stages of the game after a strong grab at the 27 minute mark to Jack Buller inside 50 but he was unable to convert and even things up on the scoreboard as Richmond held on for the next 90 seconds to record a victory.
Ollie Florent was busy for Sydney racking up a team high 27 disposals, as was fellow senior Swan Ben Paton (26 disposals) while Captain Nic Shipley worked tirelessly with 21 disposals and game high 8 tackles.
Robbie Fox had a successful return to footy, collecting 14 disposals on managed minutes, playing the second half while Matt Lloyd finished with 3 goals and Ned Bowman and Harrison Podmore Taylor kicked two each.
The Swans have the bye next week but will return to action in Round 13 against first placed Southport on the Gold Coast in a fortnight, on Saturday June 21.
