The Serve

Swans back in the hunt

 Michael O’Loughlin’s record breaking 261st game for the Swans won’t go down in the annals of sport, but Sydney’s 28 point win over Fremantle was perhaps the Swans most significant victory of the season.

The wet and muddy SCG was a fitting setting for the Heritage Round match, however the damp didn’t do the Swans accuracy any favours, with Sydney firing a staggering 34 scoring shots, frustrating Sydney coach Paul Roos.

“We kept them in the game with out inaccuracy, (but) I think you saw the effort there for four quarters.”

O’Loughlin bagged the first goal of the match, finishing with a double. He was struggling with his emotions after the siren.

“It’s been a massive day. That was back to the old Swans.”

The win is a welcome relief for Roos, with the Swans back to within a game of the top eight, and with a healthy percentage, their season is almost back on track.

“We were probably fortunate we went to Geelong last week because we played in wet conditions. I thought the way we played was as good as we’ve played in a while.”

Tadgh Kennelly was significant in his return, while Barry Hall collected three goals. The key patch of the game was late in the third term, when Sydney booted four unanswered goals, turning a deficit into a match winning lead.

The Dockers now face the prospect of needing to win at least six of their remaining eight games to make the finals

“A bitterly disappointing game for us, because it is a pivotal point of the season”, said Fremantle coach Chris Connolly.