The Sydney Swans have breathed life back into their season by staging a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback against Collingwood to win a thrilling contest 13.11 (89) to 12.14 (86).
The stage was perfectly set at the SCG for the Swans to rebound from their disastrous 112-point loss to Port Adelaide last Saturday, including welcoming back heroes from the 2012 premiership.
Luke Parker celebrates against CollingwoodCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
One of the members of that esteemed group, Luke Parker, was on the field, inspiring his side with two goals and a reminder of the never-say-die Bloods culture.
For the majority of the game, the Swans had looked second best to a Collingwood side desperate to fight their way into finals football.
The strain of the latter stages of the season has unfairly fallen on the Swans’ vaunted midfield trio of Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney, who have been unable to recreate the early season form they displayed when their side set the pace in the competition.
Throughout the majority of the game, the trio were shut down by a determined Collingwood side, marshalled superbly by former Swan Darcy Cameron in defence.
Gulden in particular suffered from excellent tagging from Steele Sidebottom, but scored the game-winner exactly when it mattered with his team’s premiership hopes potentially on the line.
Three rapid successive goals from Will Hayward, Logan McDonald and Warner led to an unlikely comeback and turned the game on its head.
