AFL results 2024, Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants, round 8 updates, stats, blog, start time, teams, how to stream, news

The Swans have beaten GWS by 29 points in a major statement to claim the Battle of the Bridge, amid injuries at both clubs.

After a slow start, Sydney adapted better to the wet conditions amid a huge performance from the star-studded midfield, winning 14.14 (99) to 10.9 (68).

But perhaps the bigger story to emerge was Tom McCartin suffering another blow to the head after a Callum Brown goal, while Tom Green’s day also ended early due to an ankle injury.

The win saw the Swans improve to 7-1 – and move into first place on the ladder, if only for now – while the Giants fell to 6-2.

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MATCH UPDATES

There were no late changes, with Robbie Fox (Sydney) and Harvey Thomas (GWS) named the starting substitutes.

The Swans looked to make a promising start early on, including the first goal through James Rowbottom.

But Aaron Cadman launched a long bomb from outside 50 yards against the flow to get the Giants on the board.

“Every time you see this man, he turns more into Jeremy Cameron. Also up front he has made some big moves in 2024,” Kangaroos legend David King said of Cadman on Fox Footy.

GWS took control from then on with several attacking entries, but were unable to increase their numbers.

King, meanwhile, praised Josh Kelly, saying, “Not enough people are talking about the year he’s having.”

The match was played in a finals-like atmosphere, with neither side conceding anything early on.

In a serious injury problem for GWS, Tom Green limped off the ground in the first quarter and went to the rooms with an ankle problem after being caught awkwardly under an opponent during a match.

However, that didn’t matter as the Giant scored three goals before quarter time to build a fifteen-point lead and swing the match in their favor.

GWS led at the first break 5.3 (33) to 2.6 (18).

Logan McDonald scored the opening goal of the second term in a crucial match for Sydney.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Green’s day was over with a huge blow to the Giants, with the star midfielder being taken out of the game for Thomas.

Brodie Grundy was crucial in turning the tide for Sydney in the middle as a goal from Will Hayward got the ball back within a kick.

There were a few more injury problems – this time in Sydney – with Lewis Melican coming off with a back injury, while Callum Brown crashed into Tom McCartin, who was worse for wear and has a history of concussions.

“There’s no point in that, you can’t brace yourself like that anymore and make that contact anymore,” King said of Brown’s hit on McCartin.

“He chooses to punch… the only result he has to avoid is contact with the head.”

After it was confirmed that McCartin’s day was over and was traded to Fox, King said it was “sad news” and that he “hoped the defenseman was OK.”

Saints legend Leigh Montagna added of Brown: “He’s in trouble, there’s no doubt about it.”

From there the match really stepped up a notch, with Fox Footy caller Mark Howard saying there was “a bit of feeling in the game”.

After Joel Amartey had given Sydney the lead, Errol Gulden, who had had a hot first half, added another in a “cardinal sin” by the Giants by allowing the star midfielder to pack alone.

It meant four straight Swans goals when Montagna noted the Giants “lost their way a bit” as rain fell in Sydney.

Sydney led 6.8 (44) to 5.5 (35) at halftime.

The Giants struck first blood in the second half, with Hogan scoring his second major of the day.

Hayward scored two of the next three goals in a hot patch for the Sydney forward. It looked like Chad Warner had increased the lead, but a review showed the ball was touched on the goal line by Sam Taylor.

However, Hayward stepped up again with a huge tackle on Harvey Thomas before firing home his equal fourth career goal to give Sydney an 18-point lead.

The Giants gave away a precious 6-6-6 foul and goal just before three-quarter time, with Adam Kingsley visibly furious on the sideline.

Sydney led 10.1 (71) to 8.5 (53) at the last change.

Hayden McLean scored the fourth quarter opener, with nine of the last 12 goals coming from the home side, extending Sydney’s lead to 25 points.

Sydney weren’t done there yet, including Isaac Heeney who capped off a big game – and the season so far – with an epic goal.

James Peatling got one back for the Giants after taking a high free-kick to restore some respect on the scoreboard.

Warner had the last laugh with another goal in Sydney, pushing the lead back to 29 points in a Longmire win.

The 3-2-1…

3. SWANS MAKE A BIG STATEMENT IN THE SYDNEY DERBY

Statement made.

The Swans outplayed the Giants in the Sydney derby with a powerful performance from John Longmire’s side and a chilling warning to the rest of the AFL.

Not only did the Swans claim all the major bragging rights, they also proved themselves as the superior side in the race for the premiership, cementing their place in the top four – who currently sit first on the ladder.

After a slow start that saw them trail by 15 points at quarter time, the Swans flipped a switch and adapted to the wet weather conditions more effectively than GWS to completely dominate the game and never look back.

“The Swans broke them. They’ve taken them to the deep end of the pool time and time again,” Kangaroos legend David King said on Fox Footy.

“They challenged them on every front and came up trumps. This is some kind of achievement.”

Sydney’s midfield – led by Brodie Grundy, Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney – was simply enormous, taking full advantage of a Giants ball brigade without Stephen Coniglio and Tom Green for most of the match.

“These three – Gulden, Warner and Heeney dominated this match,” King added.

“They are a great midfield in full flight. Just too tough today – it’s that simple – too tough for the Giants in midfield where it mattered most.”

King also praised Grundy as “the reason for separation in this game” by turning the tide in the second term, saying the Star Ruck recruit “changes the whole dynamic” of Sydney’s midfield amid “match winners everywhere .”

And amid intense interest from rival clubs, out-of-contract Will Hayward was the match winner with a career-high four goals.

Dual all-Australian Leigh Montagna said Hayward “might actually increase his value” on the trade market.

“There is a lot of talk about him in the market, teams are lurking. He was certainly the match winner this afternoon,” said Montagna.

“He does it on both sides of the football, in attack, but some of his defensive pressing has been sensational.”

2. KEY SWAN SUFFERS ANOTHER HEAD BLOW, GIANT STAR STROKES DOWN

In an otherwise exciting Sydney derby, the stars of both sides suffered two brutal injuries: Tom McCartin and Tom Green.

A major problem was that Tom McCartin’s history of head-butting continued after he was knocked down by Callum Brown in the second term in an incident that would come under fire from the MRO.

After failing a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), McCartin’s day ended prematurely when he was withdrawn from the match.

“We will find out more over time,” Swans football boss Leon Cameron said of McCartin in an update on Fox Footy.

“He’s doing well at the moment, he’s just staying in the corner on the bench. It’s disappointing, but these things happen in football.”

Given the increased focus on concussion, which has seen both Angus Brayshaw and Nathan Murphy retire this year for medical reasons, King was concerned about what this could mean for McCartin’s future.

His older brother, Paddy, also unfortunately ended his career prematurely last year at the age of 27 due to his own concussion.

“It’s probably going to be the biggest story of the weekend – where next for Tom McCartin?” posed Kangaroos great David King.

“We hope for the best, but fear the worst. I just don’t like seeing players get taken like that. This is something we are trying to eliminate from the game to protect player longevity.

“We know the story in the family.”

Saints legend Leigh Montagna added: “I think of his mum and dad, who obviously went through the Paddy McCartin situation and Tom’s had his own history.”

It came after Green left the match in the opening minutes after his ankle got trapped under his opponent during a tackle.

After trying to deal with the setback, Green limped off the floor and headed to the chambers for a while before being officially eliminated.

It left a huge hole in the Giants’ midfield, which was a deciding factor in the match as the club will sweat on scans of the 23-year-old.

“He just sprained his ankle, I don’t know how serious it is. He will have scans tomorrow and we will assess that,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said in an update to Fox Footy.

1. GIANTS ‘WORKED OUT’, ‘NOT STRONG ENOUGH’ AGAINST MIDFIELD CONCERNS

In a major acid test for the Giants against a fellow flag contender, they were below their best form.

Apart from a strong start to the match, GWS, not helped by Tom Green’s injury in the first quarter, looked a level below the Swans all day.

It included a slew of out-of-form Giants stars – namely Lachie Whitfield being covered by James Jordon, while Toby Greene was held goalless – albeit with the captain playing more time in midfield without Green and Stephen Coniglio in it.

“They’re overworked and haven’t been strong enough today – that’s the honest truth,” North Melbourne legend David King said on Fox Footy.

“Adam Kingsley is generally quite fair to his troops.”

Saints great Leigh Montagna said the Giants “still have some work to do” and were “outworked in midfield.”

Montagna wondered whether Green’s injury revealed a ‘dependency’ on the star midfielder.

“Where is the next wave?”, the double All-Australian asked.

“(Finn) Callaghan is fine, (James) Peatling has been thrown in there along with Toby Greene. Callan Ward, we know where he is with his career, has been solid again.

“But they will be disappointed by this.”

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