In a riveting opener to the 2024 Toyota AFL Season, Sydney emerged victorious against Melbourne by 22 points at a packed SCG on Thursday night.
The Swans, holding a mere two-point lead at three-quarter time after a fiercely contested match, unleashed a late-game surge with five goals to two in the final term, securing a 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64) triumph.
Despite a disrupted pre-season, Clayton Oliver showcased his midfield prowess upon his return to the Demons’ senior lineup, amassing 29 disposals and six clearances in a standout performance that kept Melbourne in contention until the last quarter.
Smooth-moving Christian Salem seamlessly transitioned from half-back to the midfield, enhancing the Demons’ forward entries. However, it was Jack Viney who shone brightest in the Melbourne midfield, boasting a game-high 31 disposals (14 contested), along with seven clearances, seven tackles, and two goals.
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Bayley Fritsch, contributing four goals for the Demons, particularly impressed with three goals in a scintillating third term, momentarily tipping the scales in Melbourne’s favor.
After a goal-for-goal exchange in the third quarter, Fritsch’s second major in two minutes put the visitors ahead for the first time in over an hour. Fritsch’s casual yet precise snap temporarily hushed the SCG faithful, showcasing a moment of poetry in slow motion.
As the final siren echoed, the scoreboard read:
SYDNEY 3.3 4.3 7.10 12.14 (86)
MELBOURNE 1.6 2.8 7.8 9.10 (64)
Key contributors for Sydney included Hayward, McLean, Heeney, and Warner, while Fritsch, Viney, and Langdon starred for Melbourne
The injury report noted Bowey’s shoulder concern for Melbourne, and the substitutes were Sam Wicks for Sydney (replacing Joel Amartey) and Jack Billings for Melbourne (substituting Bailey Laurie).
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A crowd of 40,012 witnessed the action-packed clash at the SCG, marking a spirited start to Sydney’s 150th season. As the Swans celebrate their fine performance, fans eagerly await more thrills in the upcoming rounds of the AFL season.
