LIVE AFL: Swans' Mills out of AFL game in Cairns
Melbourne is in dire straits after a woeful first half against a young and injury-ravaged Sydney, needing a major second half comeback to stay in the top eight.
Sydney have made a late change for their AFL game against Melbourne at Cairns' Cazaly Stadium with defender Callum Mills out due to a calf strain.
The Swans (4-9, 80.2%) are playing out the string of a disappointing season, having lost four of their last five matches.
The Demons (7-6, 111.7%) in contrast have won four of their last five games, including last week’s upset over St Kilda, to sit eighth with four rounds left in the season.
There were no late changes for Melbourne, but Sydney lost Callum Mills to a calf strain, with Hayden McLean replacing him.
The Swans got on the board first with James Rowbottom dribbling home a goal. They were kicking into a wild wind in the opening quarter, with four kicks going out of bounds on the full in the first 10 minutes of the term.
The Demons tried to take advantage of the wind but were constantly repelled, as Sam Wicks crumbed a second Sydney goal.
The gusts finally went Melbourne’s way when Angus Brayshaw snapped a goal from 45 metres out that didn’t look likely to score off the boot, but was pushed through.
The weight of inside 50s then finally put the Demons in front with Charlie Spargo snapping a set shot home. Brayshaw missed after the siren, putting Melbourne up 2.3 (15) to 2.0 (12) at quarter-time.
The Swans weren’t going away though with Luke Parker snapping them in front early in the second quarter.
While the Demons’ forward entries looked haphazard, the Swans’ were clean, and marks inside 50 for Hayden McLean and Will Hayward led to goals.
A clever Tom Papley pass allowed Justin McInerney to kick his first AFL goal and extend the Swans’ lead to 22 points with a few minutes left in the half. McInerney added a second not long later.
“There’s a lot of red flags going off in the Demons’ box at the moment,” Hawks great Dermott Brereton said on Fox Footy.
Sydney led 7.2 (44) to 2.4 (16) at halftime.
This game is part of the AFL’s compressed fixture between Rounds 14 and 17 which will see 31 games played across 18 days.
All AFL matches this season are being played with shortened quarters of 16 minutes (plus time on), down from 20 minutes (plus time on).
This match got underway at 4:40pm EST from Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) or stream it on Kayo.
Big man Hayden McLean will replace Mills and will line up for his first game since the Swans' round six loss to Richmond.
Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said Mills' injury is only minor and he could still play in Tuesday night's game against Carlton.
The 16th-placed Swans have lost their past two outings after a surprise 41-point derby victory over Greater Western Sydney.
The Demons have a golden opportunity to consolidate their spot in the top-eight if they can take care of John Longmire's men.
