Curnow closes in on third Coleman Medal as Sydney crush Port Adelaide
Sydney have strengthened their hold on second place on the AFL ladder, while Charlie Curnow took a decisive step toward a third Coleman Medal with a five-goal performance in a 97-point demolition of Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday.
After trailing by eight points early in the second quarter, the Swans responded with nine consecutive goals, eventually winning 26.11 (167) to 10.10 (70). The victory was Sydney's largest ever score and winning margin against Port Adelaide.
Curnow's Coleman Medal campaign
Curnow now leads the league with 62 goals for the season, moving him closer to a third leading goalkicker award. Gold Coast's Ben King is his nearest rival on 53 goals, with King set to play against GWS on Sunday. Curnow was one of 12 different goalkickers for Sydney on the day.
Key contributors in Sydney's win
Tom Papley, Jake Lloyd, Logan McDonald and Chad Warner each kicked three goals. Errol Gulden was influential, finishing with 39 disposals, while Isaac Heeney contributed 24 disposals, seven clearances and three goal assists. Gulden also recorded 13 disposals, three clearances, three goal assists and six score involvements in the second quarter alone.
Injury concern for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide midfielder Jason Horne-Francis left the field in the final quarter after his left knee buckled awkwardly while changing direction, during his 100th AFL game. However, Port coach Josh Carr provided reassurance after the match.
He's OK, he's alright. He hyperextended the knee and it obviously looked a lot worse on TV and we all got a bit worried about it, but he's looking OK and all the testing it looks fine,
Carr said.
Ladder implications
The win moved Sydney six points clear of third-placed Hawthorn, meaning the Swans need just one victory from their final two matches to secure second place. They retain a slim chance of claiming the minor premiership, but would need to win both remaining games by large margins and hope ladder leaders Fremantle lose both of their fixtures.
Port Adelaide's struggles continue
Port slumped to a fifth consecutive defeat. They started strongly, winning inside 50s, contested possessions and clearances in the first quarter, which ended with them holding a two-point lead. Mitch Zadow extended their advantage to eight points early in the second quarter after a set shot conversion. But Sydney lifted their intensity and began executing their trademark fast chains with slicker kicks and handballs, blowing the lead out to 50 points before Port kicked the last goal of the quarter. The Swans led by 46 at halftime, extended that to 59 points by three-quarter time, and added ten goals to four in the final term.
Willem Drew worked hard for Port with 31 disposals and nine clearances, Jase Burgoyne had 34 disposals and seven clearances, and Jack Whitlock kicked three goals.