Latest AFL News

Sydney’s message to avoid repeat of 2022 heartbreak, update on McDonald

“They’re really going to come and try and rip your head off, so you’ve got to be ready for that.”

Published by
Aidan Cellini

Sydney midfielder Chad Warner says the club is keeping it simple as it enters the 2024 Grand Final and the ensuing week's lead-up to the fateful day.

Two years ago, the Swans failed to make the last Saturday of September a day to remember, being thumped by 81 points at the hands of Geelong.

And now they have their chance at redemption.

2024-09-28T04:30:00Z

But Warner and teammate Errol Gulden say this year feels very different, with experience and time since 2022 playing huge factors in the club's rise to premiership favouritism.

"It does feel a little bit different (than 2022)," Gulden said on Sunday.

"Some people were probably a little bit shocked at how early we got to a Grand Final a couple years ago... I don't really know deep down, but we may have surprised ourselves a little bit as well.

"I feel like this year, the way we've played, the body of work we've put in on the track and on the field, it was our expectation to be there this weekend."

The Swans have been the leaders of the competition for the majority of the year, given the power of work they put in through the cold Winter months.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Jake Lloyd of the Swans celebrates a goal during the AFL First Qualifying Final match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on September 07, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

But as we near the close of September, the game is totally different according to Warner, with the grand final being a "different beast" than the regular season.

The star midfielder says there is unfinished business at the Swans, who are chasing the elusive flag that has haunted John Longmire since 2012.

"It would actually have been good maybe to rewrite a few wrongs there, but any team I would have been happy to play against," Warner said.

"There's players, especially in Brisbane, with a lot of experience in big games, and they're going to be so hungry and going to come out firing, just like Geelong did a couple years ago too.

"They're really going to come and try and rip your head off, so you've got to be ready for that."

With every grand final comes selection drama.

In 2023, it was Taylor Adams who missed out for Collingwood. The year before, it was Max Holmes for Geelong.

Sydney opted to play Sam Reid in the 2022 Grand Final despite lingering adductor issues that proved costly on game day.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Sam Reid of the Swans is seen injured on the bench during the 2022 AFL Second Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Collingwood Magpies at the Sydney Cricket Ground on September 17, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

And this year, it looms as Callum Mills and Logan McDonald for the Swans.

Mills was absent from Friday night's preliminary final win due to a minor hamstring he sustained shortly after the victory over GWS a fortnight ago.

As for McDonald, he rolled his ankle late against Port Adelaide and was subbed from the match.

If the key forward were to miss, it would make for the second time he's been truant from the decider.

But Warner was optimistic both would put their hand up.

"With Logan, I'm not sure, but it looked like a rolled ankle," the 23-year-old said.

"He'll do everything he can, and Millsy', you know what he's like, he'll be raring to go if he can.

"He'll be doing everything to get right."

It was reported that McDonald was a notable absentee from training, partaking in a rehabilitation program.

Published by
Aidan Cellini