Sydney Swans beat Brisbane Lions but sweat on Gulden shoulder injury
The Sydney Swans beat Brisbane by 44 points at the SCG after ruthlessly exploiting the visitors’ weak squad.
The Swans will face a tense wait over the condition of star midfielder Errol Gulden, who went down clutching his shoulder following a fourth-quarter tackle and sat in a sling for the remainder of the game. Isaac Heeney was similarly removed from the game recently as a precaution due to a hamstring strain.
Swans’ Charlie Curnow in action during the first round AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions at the Sydney Cricket GroundCredit: Getty Images
Despite the worrying condition of Gulden’s shoulder and, to a lesser extent, Heeney’s hamstring, the Swans could look back with satisfaction on a performance that included forward Joel Amartey kicking five goals against Brisbane and taking a 53-point lead in the third quarter, which provided a decent boost.
Twenty years ago, the phrase “tiki taka” was coined to celebrate FC Barcelona’s irrepressible and fast ball movement centered on Lionel Messi. At the SCG the Swans’ Riley Bice performed his own unique tribute in the AFL in the first half.
The Swans scored ten goals in the first half, with Bice involved in six of them. The defender finished the game with 27 disposals, adding another chapter to a remarkable story given that he was working on a construction site in Albury just two years ago.
Brisbane arrived in Sydney with 17 players suspended and unavailable through injury; these included three of last year’s All-Australian selections, Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey.
Lions’ James Tunstill is tackled by Swans’ Errol Gulden.Credit: Getty Images
Andrews’ absence was perhaps most felt as Brisbane were undersized, understaffed and inexperienced defensively. Senior Ryan Lester took on Swans star forward Charlie Curnow and held him scoreless, but Heeney and Logan McDonald each finished in two majors, leaving more room for the others.
In their opening round win against Carlton last Thursday, the Swans were sloppy defensively and struggled in midfield in the first half, before taking control of the game with a remarkable 12-goal third quarter.
