The Sydney Swans have stopped a two-game slide with a hard-fought AFL win over Richmond, but both injury-hit sides came out of the game with concerns.
Tom Papley kicked six goals as the Swans ran away from the Tigers late for an 18.14 (122) to 11.12 (78) win at Adelaide Oval.
It came at a cost for the Swans, though, with young ruck Joel Amartey leaving the game in pain and tears with an apparently serious hamstring injury after kicking two first-quarter goals.
Already without three key defenders, Sydney’s reshuffled backline had to deal with a returning Jack Riewoldt, who slotted four times but could not inspire the Tigers to victory.
Despite missing Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis, Jayden Short, Jack Graham and a slew of others, the Tigers were not the youngest team on the field on the night, with the Swans turning out the most inexperienced side of the round.
The Swans’ injuries meant they handed a debut to Corey Warner and watched him kick a goal in the second quarter, with brother Chad joining him on the scorers’ list in the final term.
Dockers finish strong to overrun Suns
Fremantle pulled off a thrilling comeback win after trailing the Suns by 23 points at half-time of their clash at Norwood Oval.
Gold Coast will be ruing their inaccuracy, kicking 9.7 at the big break and 11.11 at three-quarter-time, allowing the Dockers to stay in touch and launch a late assault in the fourth quarter.
Led by Caleb Serong (37 disposals) and big goals to third-gamer Matthew Johnson, second-year player Jye Amiss and Bailey Banfield, the Dockers completed the comeback and got the 15.10 (100) to 13.12 (90) win.
The win was a successful homecoming for Dockers midfielder James Aish, who was a two-time premiership player at SANFL team Norwood before he went to the AFL.
Fremantle and Gold Coast were on 1-3 records before this match and there had been plenty of heat on the Dockers after last year’s finals appearance.
Johnson put the Dockers back in front with his first AFL goal 17 minutes into the last term and Amiss took a great mark in front of the pack and scored from an acute angle two minutes later.
Noah Anderson kicked his second goal of the term to bring the Suns within a kick, before Bailey Banfield’s goal sealed it for Fremantle.
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ABC/AAP
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