Some fairytales just don’t come true.
asserted
fairytales → come → ?
After the events of last month in Melbourne, the second-on-the-ladder Swans couldn’t have seemed further away from another grand final berth.
asserted
Swans → seem → berth
But what happened since – despite missing a host of their best players after they were handed season-ending suspensions by the Swans for failing to meet the club’s standards after their round 23 win over Essendon – has been nothing short of remarkable.
asserted
they → happen → Essendon
On Friday night, they finished just 13 points shy of the decider as the Dockers roared home.
asserted
Dockers → finish → decider
Marc McGowan (Sydney) and Steve Barrett (Fremantle) run their eye over every player in from the preliminary final at the SCG.
asserted
McGowan → run → SCG
Grundy took the first-half honours against Luke Jackson and was a key reason the Swans started so well, but the star Docker rose to the occasion after half-time.
asserted
Docker → take → time
McDonald was excellent again, after kicking six goals in the Swans’ qualifying final drubbing of the Lions.
asserted
McDonald → kick → Lions
He was often Sydney’s deepest forward and constantly presented, and was rewarded with a game-high three goals.
asserted
He → present → goals
Had a series of defensive efforts that led to Angus Sheldrick’s third-quarter goal and there is never any question on his effort.
asserted
that → have → effort
A quiet night for the second-year Swan, who otherwise grabbed his opportunity late in the season.
asserted
who → grab → season
Papley was sensational in the opening half, whether kicking or setting up goals, executing diving smothers or stealing handballs.
asserted
Papley → kick → handballs
But he would have loved a better return than 1.3.
asserted
he → love → 1.3
Sheldrick is as tough as nails and kicked a goal in the third quarter, but won only 12 disposals.
asserted
Sheldrick → kick → disposals
Who would have picked the ex-Hawk at the start of the year to be a centre-bounce midfielder in a preliminary final?
asserted
Who → pick → final
Wicks won enough of the ball, but was a bit sloppy with his disposals, and wasn’t quite as good defensively as usual.
asserted
Wicks → win → disposals
4/10
(21) Errol Gulden: Had an early turnover that gifted Fremantle a goal, but quickly returned to his dominant self that extended his purple patch.
asserted
that → have → patch
8.5/10
(24) Dane Rampe: Returned to the captaincy after Callum Mills’ ACL rupture, and typically gave his all in what may have been his last game.
uncertain
what → return → all
6/10
(25) Billy Cootee: Had a second-quarter handball blunder that almost cost the Swans a goal, but was part of the Swans’ ground-wide defensive effort.
asserted
that → have → effort
3/10
(27) Justin McInerney: One of many Swans who faded badly in the final term, picking up just one of his 14 disposals.
asserted
who → fade → disposals
Sydney rolled the dice in selecting him for his first match since June, and he was OK without doing a great deal.
asserted
he → roll → deal
The premiership-winning Bulldog and ex-Docker grabbed a few intercept marks and spent time on Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss.
asserted
Bulldog → win → Amiss
Big moment early with a goal-saving tackle on Patrick Voss and finished with a game-high 11 intercept possessions, which sums up how strong he was aerially.
asserted
he → save → possessions
Kyle did not look out of place down back and looks a promising prospect who will play further afield in the future.
asserted
who → look → future
His tackling pressure was good, but didn’t win a heap of the Sherrin.
asserted
pressure → win → Sherrin
Roberts was a solid performer without having a major impact.
asserted
Roberts → have → impact
He has played much better games than this.
asserted
He → play → this
Outside of a brilliant hanger over Oscar McDonald, which preceded his sole goal, Curnow failed to have his usual impact when the Swans needed him most.
asserted
Swans → precede → him
2/10
(40) Tom Hanily: Did his best work in the first quarter, when his repeated strong efforts were rewarded with an opportunistic goal.
asserted
efforts → do → goal
But he had only four touches after quarter-time.
asserted
he → have → time
Lost contact with Mason Cox in the final term when the ex-Pie marked and kicked Fremantle ahead, then dropped a mark before Isaiah Dudley’s sealing goal.
asserted
Pie → lose → goal
Lloyd did as he has throughout his career, providing strong rebound out of defence and generally using the ball well.
asserted
he → do → ball
After seeing off Oisin Mullin’s tag a week ago, Serong got away from Rowbottom, before Sydney dispensed with the run-with role at half-time.
asserted
Sydney → see → time
The lion-hearted midfielder misfired with 0.3 but set others up with his 28 disposals and 10 clearances.
asserted
midfielder → misfire → disposals
His aerial game was sturdy, and he used the footy neatly off half-back, aside from one obviously costly moment, which resulted in a third quarter goal which sparked Sydney’s resurgence.
asserted
which → use → resurgence
Had 497 metres gained, with his customary dash out of defence, but that was offset by some imprecise use of the footy and below-par decision-making.
asserted
that → have → footy
Brayshaw’s disposal was a tad off in the preliminary final heat, but his heart and head – covered in blood approaching three-quarter-time – could never be questioned, amassing a team-high 29 touches.
uncertain
heart → cover → touches
A week after destroying Geelong, Jackson was always going to be in for a more challenging night against Grundy.
asserted
Jackson → destroy → Grundy
Still, “the Unicorn” narrowly took the individual honours, booting two important goals and letting Grundy know about it.
asserted
Grundy → take → it
Constantly hurried in the first half and unsighted in the third term, Bolton came alive in the fourth.
asserted
Bolton → come → fourth
He booted two fourth-quarter goals, his shift from midfield to deep forward proving a masterstroke.
asserted
shift → boot → forward
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
