Friday Fallout: Heeney injured? Crows prove they’re legitimate flag contenders

Sydney v Adelaide

The Crows became the first team this season to knock the Swans off at the SCG – a seriously impressive feat.

They kicked off the game with an impressive first half, leading by as much as 27 points during the second term, but the Swans dug deep and stole the lead from Adelaide in the third. That lead didn’t last long though, as the Crows proved too brave in the wet to win by 16 points.

What stood out most in Adelaide’s gritty victory was their physicality. They were ruthless throughout the entire game, laying 72 tackles and 21 tackles inside their forward 50. This sort of high-pressure physicality is exactly what wins games at the business-end of the season.

Now sitting at third on the ladder, and only two losses from their last 11 games, the Crows seem primed for a deep September run.

In concerning news for the Swans, two-time Best and Fairest winner Isaac Heeney may be carrying an injury. The hybrid midfielder/forward spent a decent portion of the third quarter on the pine, receiving treatment for his lower back after a complaint from Heeney in the third term. This treatment even continued throughout the three-quarter time break, raising eyebrows as to what was wrong with the Sydney star.

Thankfully, Heeney still managed 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 412 metres gained for the game, proving his quality whilst battling through an injury.

Was the injury just simply a niggle or something more sinister? Sydney coach Dean Cox downplayed the injury concerns, but this may be one to watch.

The Crows will face off against the Pies in a blockbuster Thursday night class next week, while the Swans will play their cross-town rivals, GWS, next Saturday.

Connor Scanlon

Geelong v St Kilda

Just when the outside doubt starts to creep in, Geelong finds a way to rally. 

The Cats did enter as favourites but there was an air of optimism swirling around this St Kilda side.

That would’ve been a game the Saints fancied themselves to win given the Cats had made seven changes off a short break, but it shows they still have a fair way to go before we take them seriously.

It was a 27-point Geelong victory with plenty of merit given their personnel woes and lead-up form of three losses on the trot.

The Cats brought the heat early, kicking the opening four goals before the Saints decided to get involved on the scoreboard 26 minutes in.

It’s always hard to peg back a margin at the Cattery and that’s what Ross Lyon and his Saints experienced on Thursday night.

The margin was 47 points with 10 minutes to go before a few late St Kilda goals pulled it back to a reasonable margin. It flattered the visitors.

They’ve got five more chances to prove their wildcard credentials. It’s a mixed run with a fixture against fellow top-10 chasers North Melbourne (13th) before setting their sights on Sydney (2nd), Carlton (12th), Richmond (17th) and Gold Coast (14th).

There’s a few wins in there. Surely anything outside the 10 is a failure? Prove us wrong, Ross.

As for Chris Scott’s Cats, they’re limping into the business end of the season.

We already knew about Jeremy Cameron’s shoulder. Now add gun midfielder Max Holmes to the list after he injured his ankle. They’ll be sweating on those scans.

Throw in Shaun Mannagh’s tight hammy and a sore Mark O’Connor and there are a few little worries there.

But they’ll find a way, they always do. 

“The questions came all week and for now the answers are coming emphatically again from a Geelong point of view,” Sam Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.

“Again they nail it at selection. They needed it and they got it.”

The Cats have a fairly reasonable run home so must be given a decent chance to make the eight. But if those big injuries are telling then they might have to settle for a wildcard slot.

That would be interesting given how much Scott has viewed the concept through a lens of negativity. 

Individually it was good to see Cats debutant Jay Polkinghorne show a bit in Jezza’s absence. ‘The Dragon’ kicked 2.3 and looked comfortable on the big stage.

Edmund added: “How many times do you watch a Geelong game and you find yourself saying, ‘Geez, they’ve found another one’.

“We’d been waiting for Jay Polkinghorne to debut. How sticky were the mitts! He left a few goals out there too. He’s a player, he looks smart, knows his way around.”

Next up for the Cats is a major test in Melbourne, coached by Scott’s former assistant Steven King.

Andrew Slevison