The Sydney Swans purred like a well tooled engine for much of last year. Yes, the team ran out of petrol tickets in the grand final but finished well clear at the top of the ladder after the home and away season. Longtime coach John Longmire gave the top job away and handed over to his apprentice. On the available evidence the Swans are definitely not firing on all cylinders in 2025. Is Dean Cox turning a Rolls Royce into a jalopy? The red and white bus is stalling at every intersection with normally reliable hands fumbling and players stumbling like never before. Cox’s changes to the side have created insecurity on every line. Tom McCartin is not a key forward right now and the Swans desperately need certainty at both ends of the ground.
Coach Cox Making Team Swan An Ugly Duckling
Against the Brisbane Lions at the SCG, I have rarely seen so many errors made by senior players in the red and white. It became a comedy of stuff ups with few laughs for those of us barracking for the home team. McCartin, even when he gets the ball at centre half forward, doesn’t know what to do with it. He takes too long to make poor decisions. Joel Amartey is not a ruckman; and all you are doing by playing him there is getting him injured and incapable of kicking goals. It is a piss poor experience watching a once well drilled side reduced to making so many mistakes.
“The Lions had little trouble brushing aside the Swans to clinch a flag in their last encounter but this time had to bravely chase down the hosts then hold on desperately for a 12.14 (86) to 12.10 (82) triumph on Saturday.”
Sydney Swan’s Side Under Cox Not Firing
There are too many players in the 23 unsure of what is going on and what they should be doing. Will Hayward, Ollie Florent, and Justin McInerney are mere shadows of themselves. Why is that Dean? Brody Grundy is not up to it! In the second half of the match against Brisbane, the players were all over the shop. Isaac Heeney really needs to lift big time. Tom Papley also needs to do more for longer. Sam Wicks is trying hard and was great last week but had 4 goals kicked on him against the Lions. Nick Blakey made some uncharacteristic blunders but remains one of the best in the red and white. Uncertainty is bleeding red and white at the SCG in 2025.
Scouring For Positives In Losses
Is Dean Cox turning a Rolls Royce into a jalopy? James Rowbottom is leading the way in terms of application and ferocious play. Riley Bice was a revelation in the red and white. James Jordan did a phenomenal lock down job on Lachie Neil. Chad and Corey Warner are both playing well. It was good to see Joel Hamling finally get a game and do a few good things in defence. Not sure if Paton the No 25 is up to it. It could, however, have a lot to do with the uncertainty factor in the coaching strategy. The Brisbane game is one the Swans would have won last year but unsure hands let this one get away.
The Red & White Rolls Requires Careful Handling
Taking over a top team in the AFL as coach has challenges of its own, I am sure. Dean Cox seems to be a well liked fella but can he drive the red and white bus? The concerning situation at the moment is what appears to be senior players not playing well for whatever reasons. Ollie Florent looks lost and out of form – a spell in the VFL perhaps? Isaac Heeney seems to be operating at 60% of his capacity in the couple of games so far. Will Hayward likewise is out of form and not contributing enough. Justin McInerney could be doing so much more. Errol Gulden leaves big boots to fill out on the field. The missing captain, Mills, remains another debilitating omission the Swan’s team could do without.
Key Mechanical Problems
- Brody Grundy letting side down in the ruck & around the ground.
- Only Rowbottom doing enough in the midfield.
- Forward line is not firing and rucking Amartey is making things worse.
- Tom McCartin not using the ball well enough the few times he gets it up forward.
- Isaac Heeney not getting enough ball in the middle.
- Defence looks uncertain and too many errors being made.
- No system apparent & too easy to score against Swans.
RSH
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