Without even a bag of seven kicked during season 2024, the season-high could've blown out to double digits in last night's clash at the Adelaide Oval, if not for the Amarty-party pooper himself, John Longmire.
The Swans coach was obviously full of praise for his young key forward for pulling a career night of of nowhere, acknowledging how rare of a feat it is to swing a game of footy in that fashion.
"Nowadays it doesn't happen much," Longmire said post-match.
A career-best NINE goals for Joel Amartey ๐คฏ #AFLCrowsSwans pic.twitter.com/oP6HSqNsPQ
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 15, 2024
"It was so important for us tonight... to be a big presence in front of the footy but also to kick so accurately.
"You could see the team rising because of the confidence it was giving."
The 24-year-old had the Crows' backs panicking through the second half, giving away free kicks in their desperate attempts to quell his impact, only adding fuel to the fire.
"Inside their defence, they've actually been really strong. So for one of our key forwards to do that was just a fantastic effort," the Swans coach added.
So why take him off?
Quizzed on whether Amartey questioned the decision to drag him one short of 10, Longmire laughed "he did, he might've looked up (at the coaches box)."
"We want him available, once we had the game won."
"It was important for the team that we looked after him and got him into next week."
This is obviously a straight-bat answer, but the likelihood of Amartey risking injury by staying out there in pursuit of one more goal is negligent.
Whether Longmire was actually concerned about the risk, or if the move was an intentional ploy to keep his troops on the straight and narrow as they ease their way toward a minor premiership, only he would know.
One thing that is clear to all is just how valuable ruck recruit Brodie Grundy has made himself to the Sydney midfield.
Adding a fourth ball-winner with quality ruck craft and a clear connection with his on-ballers has been the catalyst for this mob to explode.
49 hit-outs and 24 contested possessions to add to Heeney's 29 and two, Gulden's 35 and Warner's 20 and one seems like a mix too powerful to stop at the moment.
"He was significant... his contested work in the last couple of weeks has been enormous," Longmire said of his ruck recruit.
"The longer the game's gone the better he's gone with that and he had a real presence around the footy."
Sydney keep their firm hold a-top the ladder with a scary percentage to boot, seemingly raising their premiership credentials with each week they play.
Next week's derby with the Giants will be yet another must-watch battle for all footy fans seeking a thrill during the dog days of the season.
