Sydney Swans 15.8 (98) d Essendon 8.11 (59)
Season done for Dons
For the second year in a row, Essendon’s season has petered out and ended with a whimper. In second spot for much of the first half of the year, and in the eight until the final week of July, the Dons are done. Barring a miracle, it will be another year without a finals victory. In front by seven points after a strong first half, the Bombers folded after half-time, sinking to a 39-point loss to Sydney.
The Swans are now all but guaranteed top spot on the ladder, their 10th minor premiership and first since 2016 when they lost the grand final to the Western Bulldogs. I’m still not convinced the Swans are back to their best from the middle of the season, but their performance in the second half was a big step forward. Whereas last week they played one quarter, this week they put together two.
Isaac Heeney is working back to his best form, and they did it tonight without Chad Warner. Their forward line remains a query. Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald had quiet nights, though Amartey got going late. Tom Papley’s energy and threat at ground level is missed.
Where to for the Bombers?
This match was a snapshot of why Essendon are where they are. They won the half they controlled by just points, and lost the half in which they were dominated by nearly eight goals. Put simply, they lack the class to make it count on the scoreboard, and do not have the maturity or organisation to stem the bleeding when the going gets tough.
How much this is related to system or personnel will be dissected over the off-season, but from the cheap seats it appears a combination of both. Their forward line lacks presence in the air and when the inconsistent Jake Stringer is not on song and has no X-factor when the ball hits the deck. Kyle Langford’s form has tapered, and Nate Caddy, while promising, is a first-year player who is years off hitting his prime.
The backline remains jittery despite the addition of Ben McKay, whose form has tapered after a strong first 15 games or so. He needs more support. Jayden Laverde is limited, and the Dons tried former forward Sam Weideman, whose future is unclear. Their midfield, apart from Zach Merrett, is short of class. Dylan Shiel remains AFL standard, but at age 31, is he part of their future? Jye Caldwell and Sam Durham have been big improvers. Much rests on their shoulders.
Parker beds down finals spot
Luke Parker has just about put to bed any talk he is not in Sydney’s best team. For the second week in a row, the Swans veteran ignited his team, lifting them out of their funk and, as their song says, onwards to victory. Parker made his name as a hard-nosed inside midfielder, but is no longer a fixture in their centre-square set-up.
Parker, though, is a threat forward with his strong hands and straight kicking. Moved into the guts after half-time, he booted two of his three goals when the Swans surged in the third term. He is a better extra midfield option than Taylor Adams and more of a threat inside 50 than Joel Amartey. His best might be behind him, but Parker still has an important role to play in the club’s quest for a sixth flag.