Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
AFL flag fancies Sydney may have found the blueprint to handling Fremantle, but they’ll have to thank their bitter rivals for it.
The ever-competitive Isaac Heeney can’t tell if it’s a good or bad thing that GWS were the team to end the Dockers’ club record 14-game winning streak, but the Swans superstar knows it would be wasteful to let grudges get in the way.
An injury-hit Giants stunned the league leaders with a finals-worthy performance at Manuka Oval on Saturday, winning by 21 points thanks to a seven-goal haul from Jake Stringer and a masterclass from skipper Toby Greene.
It was the first time Fremantle – a game clear of second-placed Sydney (13-3) – had lost since their round-one defeat to Geelong.
So strong were GWS at the contest that Heeney had to heap praise as the Swans prepare for a smash-and-grab mission at Optus Stadium.
“Yeah, I don’t know whether it’s a good or a bad thing,” Heeney joked.
“Obviously, it probably wakes them (Fremantle) up as well, but I think it does give you a bit of a blueprint.
“The Giants played a final sort of style of football that is really competitive against a lot of teams, especially the top teams.
“It’s not an easy way of doing it, but to do it the way they did was pretty impressive. And it started with their defence, which was unbelievable.
“Their pressure was amazing, and then their ball use, they sort of took any option that was available and converted really well. I think Toby getting after them was an inspirational captain move.”
Just as Stringer did for GWS, Charlie Curnow kicked six goals against the Western Bulldogs to help Dean Cox’s Sydney side return to their winning ways after a dismal loss to the Brisbane Lions.
All cylinders of the Swans’ star engine room fired in a comprehensive defeat of the Western Bulldogs, with Heeney well-supported by ruck Brodie Grundy, Errol Gulden and Chad Warner.
Grundy – who notched 60 hitouts against the Dogs – is set for a blockbuster match-up against Fremantle’s “unicorn” Luke Jackson, while Sydney take on a Dockers midfield without Hayden Young (groin).
The Swans are also hopeful small forward and “menace” Tom Papley (calf) will prove fit in time, while Braeden Campbell (shin stress fracture) will play in the VFL.
“Coxy might have a few things for us to try, but I think it’s a really good challenge,” Heeney said.
“We’ve got a few key personnel we might try to nullify a little bit. We’re going to back ourselves as well and back our game plan as to what we did last week.
“You look at the best teams. I look at Brissy, I look at Geelong, Freo this year – they’ve got multiple ways of winning the game.
“For us, the first half of the year, we probably relied purely on our attack. Over the last six weeks, we probably slipped off in defence a little bit – that’s our blueprint if we’re really strong there.
“You got ‘Paps’. He’s a little menace. He brings that excitement and that energy. He’s one of the better leaders at the club as well. He’s going to bring that excitement, assuming he gets through training and Coxy (coach, Dean Cox) is happy with him.”
