SCG, July 6, 2025
Swans face mounting injury concerns
Key players sidelined after a hard-fought victory, jeopardizing their finals aspirations.
Sydney’s win may come at a steep cost.
- Tom Papley and Joel Amartey sustained injuries during Sunday’s game.
- Papley was returning from a heel fracture, while Amartey had hamstring issues.
- James Jordon received praise for limiting Caleb Serong’s impact.
- The Swans dominated clearances, a critical factor in their victory.
The Sydney Swans’ 11-point victory over Fremantle was overshadowed by injuries, and **the team now faces uncertainty as key players Tom Papley and Joel Amartey are sidelined**, casting a shadow over their finals hopes.
The Swans are assessing the extent of injuries to Papley and Amartey, both of whom left Sunday’s game at the SCG prematurely. Papley was in his third match back from a bone fracture in his heel. Amartey, who missed the previous week with hamstring tightness, suffered a groin injury in the final stages of the match against the Dockers.
Injury Woes Return
Earlier in the season, when several key players, including Papley and Errol Gulden, were sidelined, the Swans’ record slumped to 4-8. A return to near full-strength saw them edge back into finals contention. Now, this latest injury setback threatens to derail their progress once again.
“(Papley) got subbed out with his hamstring so we need to work out the extent of that, how bad that is, and the same with Amartey late in the game,” Swans coach Dean Cox said. “We’ll see throughout the next couple of days how that settles, get some scans and the results will come from that. You want your best players playing as often as possible and for them to get a run at it.”
Jordon’s Impact
Cox lauded James Jordon for his pivotal role in containing Fremantle’s Caleb Serong. Jordon’s efforts restricted Serong to just four disposals in the first half and his lowest total since 2020.
Serong’s influence remained minimal even after a move to the forward line in the third quarter. Jordon also contributed offensively, scoring two goals in the first half.
“He was unbelievable. I think that’s how highly we rate Serong, is for Jordon to be able to go to him,” Cox said. “To keep him to 11 touches is an unbelievable effort. I think the footy club can’t speak highly enough of what James does. He spends time looking at his opponent, coming up with a plan. He has the mental aptitude to be able to sustain and hold on. He’s a massive part of helping our team play well.”
Dockers’ Midfield Struggles
Justin Longmuir, the Dockers’ coach, dismissed the idea that his team relies too heavily on Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. However, he acknowledged the Swans’ dominance in the midfield.
The Swans started strong, winning the first nine centre clearances, with Brodie Grundy dominating early. They outscored the Dockers by 9.6 points from stoppages, a significant +48 advantage.
While the Dockers improved in the second half, losing the clearance battle by a narrower 41-32 margin, they have now been out-cleared in four of their last five matches.
“We had the same team out there in the first half as the second half, and we won clearances in the second half. So that’s the answer,” Longmuir said when asked about a reliance on Serong and Brayshaw. “Caleb was still out there getting tagged in the second half, so we didn’t rely on him in the second half and we were plus-five clearance in the second half, so same personnel. So, no, I’m not concerned about it.”
