One of Sydney’s biggest stars this year proved the “emotional firelighter” they needed.
Plus a co-captain who’s built for finals did it all over again.
We rate all 23 Sydney players for their performances against Melbourne in the Second Qualifying Final.
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1. Chad Warner
Not his most productive night, although he went to Angus Brayshaw at stoppages and did well to curtail his influence. Showed great composure in the second term to lower his vision and set up a Tom Papley goal. 5
3. Dylan Stephens
Came off the bench and went straight to a wing. Huge second term during the Swans’ surge, which included a late goal. 6
4. Ryan Clarke
Stood Christian Salem in a defensive tag all night — and walked away with the points. Salem got off the leash in the first term but had little to no influence after that. A crucial role player as the Swans go deep into September. 6
5. Isaac Heeney
Took a heavy hit early in the match in a contest from Steven May and came to the bench bloodied. Missed a left-foot snap attempt that would’ve put the Swans in front in the second term. Then kicked the sealer in the final term. But you couldn’t question his defensive output, finishing among the Swans’ top tacklers for the night. 5
6. Logan McDonald
Started on the bench then drifted inside 50 where he had either Harry Petty or Jake Lever for company. Little impact on the game. Will be interesting to see how match committee plays it for the prelim. 3
8. James Rowbottom
What a cracking addition he’s been to the on-ball brigade. Spent most of the night on the ball, cracking in hard at the coalface and kicking a goal in the first term.
9. Will Hayward
Manned up by Jayden Hunt and snapped the first goal of the game, before adding his second one quarter later in a huge team-lifter for the Swans. Such a key member of the Swans’ forward mix. 5
11. Tom Papley
What a star. Built for finals. Started across half-forward but pinch-hit at centre bounces. Had just four touches in the first term then was central to sparking the Swans’ second-term surge. Kicked a crucial goal, set up another, had nine second-term disposals, brought lots of energy and was involved in ample niggle. Garry Lyon told Fox Footy: “He’s an emotional firelighter … All of a sudden he explodes and lit the fuse.” Then as the Dees got a run-on in the third term, pulled off a terrifc snap goal against the grain. Imagine him in that mode on Grand Final day? 8
13. Ollie Florent
All class. Roaming across half-back, often opposed to the resting midfielder inside 50. Won a lot of the footy between the arcs. His pinpoint kick inside 50 to Luke Parker in the third term was a magical highlight. 7
14. Callum Mills
Captain Callum at his best. Started on a wing then pushed onto the ball. Snapped a terrific forward 50 stoppage goal that put the Swans in front in a second term where he had six disposals and three inside 50s. Had more tackles and inside 50s than any other Swans player on the field. 8
16. Braeden Campbell
Unused medical sub.
20. Sam Reid
Had Harry Petty next to him at the first bounce inside 50 while he also spent time in the ruck to give Tom Hickey a rest. Took a strong intercept mark in the centre square then was advanced 50m after Kysaiah Pickett ran into the protected area to kick his first goal. With his confidence up, then took a towering mark and nailed a long-range major to prompt elongated ‘Sydney’ chants around the MCG. 6
21. Errol Gulden
Kicking was precise, as per usual, but his defensive pressure was also a highlight. 6
22. Nick Blakey
Started on the bench before settling into his usual half-back role. Didn’t have a massive impact offensively, but was solid defensively and barely made a blue all night. 5
23. Lance Franklin
Not Buddy’s night in one of the great sideshows. Had Steven May for company in an engrossing match-up. The Demon was dominant in the air and the Swans’ ball movement was rigid — a bad combination for Buddy, who was statless at quarter-time and finished the game scoreless. 3
24. Dane Rampe
Started on Bayley Fritsch, who kicked two goals in the opening term. But showed great defensive positioning as the game wore on. One of the great defensive ‘absorbers’ in the AFL. 6
26. Luke Parker
Built for finals and delivered in a final. Big 10-disposal first term, helped the Swans get on top in the clearances in the second quarter then put them in front with a goal in the third. A genuine four-quarter performance from the star. 8
27. Justin McInerney
Stood next to Ed Langdon on the wing at the first bounce. Not a big influence on the game and went at 44 per cent by foot. 4
30. Tom McCartin
Started on Max Gawn then took Ben Brown when the Demons big man went into the ruck. Barely had a goal kicked on him all night and looked assured coming out of defence. 6
31. Tom Hickey
Got on top in the ruck in the second term as the Swans surged. Gave away a free kick that led to a Max Gawn goal in the third quarter before responding at the other end with his own major immediately then plucking a few intercept marks. 7
39. Paddy McCartin
Took Jake Melksham early with the intention to get loose and intercept, but was statless at quarter-time. Then found more of the ball as the game progressed, while Melksham had a stinker. 7
42. Robbie Fox
Big tick. Started next to Kysaiah Pickett and spent a lot of the night on him. Pickett kicked one goal for the night. Was also excellent offensively, finishing 17 disposals and six intercepts. 7
44. Jake Lloyd
A ripper from the veteran defender, Pounced on a loose ball inside 50 in the third term and nailed an unlikely goal — his first major of 2022. Then won a 50m penalty in the fourth for his second. Finished with the most disposals on the ground by a Swans player. 8
