The Sydney Swans VFL side have suffered a heartbreaking 8-point loss to the top of the table Footscray in their clash at VU Whitten Oval this afternoon (Sunday, July 11).
Heading into the final quarter with a 30-point lead, the undefeated Footscray side showed why they are sitting at the top of the table, storming home to kick 6 straight goals in the final quarter to secure a thrilling victory.
The Swans side featured 14 AFL listed players, with the rest of the squad made up of players from the NAB League for the third consecutive week, and the red and white started strongly.
Logan McDonald was a key target early in the clash, finding himself on the scoreboard with three goals in the opening term, along with Ben Ronke, Sam Gray and Callum Sinclair which saw Sydney build an early lead.
Sydney lifted their defensive pressure down both ends of the field which continued to mount pressure on the scoreboard for Footscray.
Ryan Clarke (18), James Rowbottom (15) and Paddy McCartin (13) toped the disposals at the half time break whilst Gray and Dylan Stephens were impressing with their ball usage, each with 12 disposals after the opening two terms.
Footscray began their fightback in the third, cutting Sydney’s lead in half before goals to Rowbottom and McDonald late in the term appeared to halt their momentum.
Stephens, who finished the game with 20 disposals, kicked the first goal of the final quarter which extended Sydney’s lead to six goals, but from here, it was one-way traffic with Footscray playing with the wind in their backs.
Clarke topped Sydney’s disposals with 29, and made his best efforts to halt the stem of goals but errors and penalties in the final quarter proved too much to overcome for Sydney who were looking to close this one out.
Two goals to Footscray’s Ben Cavarra, plus goals to Josh Schache and Pat Lipinski in the final quarter proved crucial, with the latter levelling the scores with just minutes to spare.
A rushed behind followed by the match-winning goal to Cavarra secured a 7-point lead to the home side, and an heartbreaking defeat to a spirited Swans outfit
McCartin finished with 26 disposals in his return whilst Gray (24), Malachy Carruthers (22), Rowbottom (22) and Sinclair (20) also had strong performances.
VFL SWANS 6.6 8.8 10.10 11.11 (77)
FOOSTCRAY 1.0 2.6 5.10 11.18 (84)
4TH QUARTER
Sydney 11.11.77 def by Footscray 11.18.84
FT' A remarkable come back from top of the table Footscray, claiming a 7-point victory.
34' A behind followed by a match-winning goal by Cavarra sees the home side extend their lead.
32' Off a boundary throw-in, Footscray's Pat Lipinski snaps the ball from the pack to level the scores.
31' Footscray storming home and have a shot at goal but hits the post! One goal in it.
30' A behind followed by the ball touched as it goes through the posts. Sydney under huge pressure by the repeat Footscray entries. Swans lead by 7 with minutes remaining.
27' Free awarded to Footscray for a high tackle. Toby McLean kicks a crucial goal to cut the lead to 9. Hold on boys!
16' Confusion out in the middle as both teams appear to have players out of position for the centre bounce. Footscray given the free kick and they find Josh Schache who kicks their third of the quarter, and second in under a minute.
15' Sweet kicks his second of the day with a long bomb from outside 50. The wind carries it over the line and he cuts the lead down to 22.
9' Ben Cavarra kicks a crucial goal in attempts to spark Footscray. Sydney continue to mount pressure and look composed with the ball
1' Dylan Stephens charges with it after the centre bounce tipped out by Sinclair and in full flight, he kicks it long and it carries through the posts! A great start to the final quarter.
3RD QUARTER
Sydney 10.10.70 lead Footscray 5.10.40
33' Three quarter time siren rings and Sydney take a 5 goal lead heading into the final quarter. Footscray came out that quarter firing, but Sydney weathered the storm and struck back with crucial goals to Rowbottom and McDonald.
24' Ball sent down the line, Marc Sheather cleans up the low loose ball from the contested mark and he finds McDonald alone inside the goal square. The forward kicks his fourth of the afternoon and extends the lead back out to 30.
21' Crucial goal to Rowbottom! Halts Footscray's run with his first major of the afternoon. The midfield forcing a free after a tackle and he kicks it straight from just inside the arc.
20' Third goal of the quarter goes to West. Half time break has seen the momentum swing and Footscray bring their own pressure. Sydney lead down to 18.
8' Footscray come out with all the running and have lifted their energy after the break. Goals to Roarke Smith and Jordon Sweet early in the quarter.
2ND QUARTER
Sydney 8.8.56 lead Footscray 2.6.18
Pressure immense from Sydney that quarter. Ryan Clarke (18), James Rowbottom (15) and Paddy McCartin (13) top the disposals. Sam Gray and Dylan Stephens have been impressive with their ball usage, having 12 disposals each at the end of the second.
33' Half time siren rings which ends an impressive half by Sydney. They take a 38 point lead into the half.
28' Logan Young takes a nice grab before slotting it through the posts for Sydney's second of the quarter. Clarke and Anderson with some great lead up work.
25' Defensive pressure across the ground has been immense this quarter. Stephens finds Angus Anderson out the back who slots in a difficult shot at goal to give Sydney a 33 point lead.
13' Against the run of possession, some quick work from Clarke and Stephens find McDonald inside-50. The forward pushes it right against the harsh windy conditions.
8' Jesse Glass-McCasker kicks the home side's second in the first major score of the quarter.
1ST QUARTER
Sydney 6.6.42 lead Footscray 1.0.6
33' Strong start for Sydney against the ladder leading Footscray. Sydney running with the wind and playing with plenty of momentum to take a 6.6(42) - 1.0(6) after the opening term.
23' McDonald fires with his second and third in quick succession. Some brilliant work by Dylan Stephens following the centre bounce finds the forward in the goal square for his third of the morning.
18' Plenty of possession continues to turn into points. Logan McDonald kicks one from a set shot to the right of the posts for the fourth goal of the quarter.
13'' A goal to Footscray through Riley West is hit back with quick fire goals to Sam Gray and Ben Ronke! Swans on fire early and take a two goal lead halfway through the opening term.
2' Callum Sinclair the beneficiary of a Footscray error, kicking the first of the afternoon.
Sydney Swans VFL squad
Kaiden Brand
Dylan Stephens
Ryan Clarke
Logan McDonald
James Rowbottom
Sam Gray
Callum Sinclair
Sam Reid
Ben Ronke
Marc Sheather
Barry O'Connor
Malachy Carruthers
Hayden McLean
Paddy McCartin
Reed van Huisstede
Lachlan McAndrew
Logan Young
Angus Anderson
Pierce Roseby
Samuel Clohesy
Lachlan Swaney
Joshua Guthrie
Will Mayhood
