Tom Papley is one of the Swans most important players
Tom Papley could very well be one of the more underrated players in the competition; but he’s certainly valued at the Sydney Swans.
Papley starred in Sydney’s 45-point thrashing of reigning premiers West Coast on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, collecting 27 disposals to go with his five goals and it’s his urgency and intensity that provides the Swans with the spark that they have sorely needed.
The former plumber is clean overhead and rarely makes an error by foot, to compliment the pace and flair he offers that is so important to a Swans team that has struggled to move the ball quickly.
Papley is on track for a career-best season in his fourth year at the Swans, averaging 16 disposals and just under two goals a game in a role that has seen the forward move more into the midfield in 2019.
In what looks to be a rare year that the Swans won’t play finals, Papley is helping some of the more experienced Swans stars lead a younger brigade of bloods players that will aim to set the club up for their next premiership tilt.
The Crows could be dangerous come September
There’s been question marks over Adelaide for the majority of the season, but it seems that the Crows are starting to find some form after dismantling Greater Western Sydney at the Adelaide Oval.
Saturday night’s 21-point win over the Giants has the Crows at 7-5 and knocking on the door of the top four, and a win over one of the flag favourites has given every indication that they can match it with the competitions stronger sides.
Matt and Brad Crouch were terrific for the Crows in the midfield with 34 and 31 disposals whilst maligned forward Josh Jenkins found some form in his second game back with three goals.
With the Eagles slipping up against the Swans on Sunday, a win over Richmond on Friday night would see the Crows rise into the top four and whilst they won’t be thinking about it now, the double chance a top four finish secures makes the Crows a daunting proposition in September, especially if you are an interstate team travelling to Adelaide Oval.
Friday’s match against Richmond could be a season-defining one for Don Pyke’s men.
The goal review process is an embarrassment to the AFL
It’s becoming a formality now that every week we are discussing another mistake from the AFL’s goal review system.
This time it was Richmond and small forward Jack Higgins who were on the receiving end of another deplorable blunder that left commentators and fans alike bemused.
Higgins kicked what looked to be a goal an important goal in the second quarter, only for the score review to deem it as a behind, despite images showing that the ball cleared over the goal-line without making contact with the goalpost.
It’s another error for the AFL’s controversial goal review process, which comes only a week after Fremantle’s Michael Walters was awarded a goal that was clearly touched off the boot by Collingwood’s Chris Mayne last Saturday – the final margin for that game was just four points.
The process the AFL has in place is not currently working, and the video technology that is being used to determine these results is substandard to put it lightly.
It’s clearly something the AFL must look at, otherwise it could very well cost a team in a big final.
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