Swans worry about an injured recruit while the surprise signing performs well; Lions’ statement: What we discovered
Following an odd delay at Blacktown, Brisbane defeated Sydney 12.9 (81) to 8.8 (56), and the Swans now have to worry about an injury blow to recruit Taylor Adams.
The game was delayed by a power outage and a snake sighting, but the Lions won easily that hot night by opening the scoring in the third quarter.
Adams, a trade acquisition from Collingwood, was declared out of the game in the third term by the Swans due to a “mild medial ligament sprain.”
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The match was scheduled to start minutes before the lights
Speak with the AFL now. Lions football manager Danny Daly told Fox Footy, “They’re not sure what the issue is at this point, so both teams have been asked to return to their rooms. They’ll let us know in due course what’s going on, when play will resume, if it will resume.”
“We’ll just wait for their response.
A snake catcher was called out to the pitch in the dark to retrieve a slick spectator, adding to the strange pregame atmosphere.
Eventually, the lights came back on, with a 7:40 p.m. start time.
As a result, longer intervals between quarters were dropped.
With a goal on the run in the first thirty minutes, Dayne Zorko gave the Lions a great start.
For much of the rest of the term, it was a very evenly contested match, with both teams going goal-for-goal.
Like the first quarter, there were flashes of brilliance from both teams in the second.
Lincoln McCarthy ignited and scored two goals for the Lions, and Isaac Heeney executed a brilliant move up front to score one as well.
The Lions took a slight lead going into the main interchange, leading by 11 points.
With 14 disposals, Errol Gulden shone and continued to pave the way for an even more explosive season.
James Jordan, a recruit, was equally impressive with 15 disposals, and Isaac Heeney was again very active.
With 20 disposals, five more than anyone else on the pitch, Hugh McCluggage stood out for the Lions.
With the help of a run of ten straight clearances, the Lions built up a sizable lead in the third quarter.
As the Lions gained momentum, Taylor Adams of the Swans appeared to be hurt when he went from the ground to reach for his left knee following a tackle.
Nathan Buckley commented, “I’ve seen Tay disappointed, that’s not disappointed.”
He would be furious if it were a soft tissue, but it appears like something is off; investigate.”
Shortly after, Adams was declared ineligible for the remainder of the game, with the Swans citing a “mild medial ligament strain.”
With both parties agreeing to shorten the quarter to 20 minutes and no time on, the fourth term was essentially a formality.
THE 3-2-1
3) A Fear of Star Wars Re-Recruitment
There would have been a lot of anxious Swans supporters when trade acquisition Taylor Adams clutched at his left knee in the third term, considering it was an injury blow that ultimately prevented him from playing in the Grand Final of last year.
Fortunately, the team reports that he only has a minor sprain of his medial ligament, and his absence from the game was a precaution.
Nathan Buckley, a former coach, is another person who knows him well and has good news to share.
Nathan Buckley commented, “I’ve seen Tay disappointed, that’s not disappointed.”
“He would be extremely irritated if it were a soft tissue, but it appears like something is off. Check it out.”
Clearances were once again a problem for the team, so the Swans will be hoping Adams can get out on the pitch and link well with Grundy.
It made an appearance in the third quarter, when the Lions broke the game at one point by winning ten straight clearances.
Adams’ future will be a major focus in the days leading up to the Opening Round, even though a win is always a bonus and the main objective is always to avoid injury in pre-season hitouts.
2) The pre-season statement from Mccluggage
Hugh McCluggage hasn’t committed until 2024, but based on his preseason hitout, he won’t be cheap.
Although McCluggage has publicly stated that he wants to stay with the Lions, there will be a lot of interest in him as a free agent.
McCluggage, who will turn 26 this coming Thursday, is still going strong and didn’t show any signs of slowing down.
McCluggage finished the game with an equal-high 31 disposals, a goal, nine score involvements, and a goal assist by the time the full-time siren sounded.
“I think that last week, when I was first getting back into it, I was a little sloppy. Following the game, McCluggage spoke with Fox Footy, saying, “It’s good to get a little bit of the footy and get some confidence.”
“I believe that together, we made a lot of the right decisions.”
1) MIXED BAG FOR BIG RECRUITS OF SWANS
The major additions to the Swans had a mixed night of luck.
Despite receiving a lot of attention, Brodie Grundy did not perform up to par on Thursday night, even though he attended more than 70% of the centre bounces.
Oscar McInerney handled him well that evening, but he, along with the majority of the Swans, can be quietly confident that the preseason hitout isn’t a sign of things to come.
The better news, however, concerned James Jordan, who made the wing his own as the Melbourne recruit amassed an equal game-high 31 disposals. “I think he’s probably flown under the radar a little bit with the other big name recruits that we’ve gotten,” Errol Gulden said to Fox Footy after the game. “He’s just a really classy player and he adds a lot for us.” Gulden, too, was in impressive form, charging into halftime before slowing down a bit in the second half. Still, he did more than enough to suggest he’ll be a force in 2024.
