IT CAN be a very cruel game sometimes. Sydney not only fell short by less than a metre after Ollie Florent's shot after the final siren landed on the line just as the SCG erupted, but the Swans lost both McCartin brothers to concussions in a thrilling two-point loss to Port Adelaide.
After arriving in the harbour city as the most under-pressure coach in the game, Ken Hinkley will return to South Australia with a new lease on life after masterminding a stunning come-from-behind victory, 9.12 (66) to 9.10 (64), and an inspired finish over a side that had won its past nine games at the SCG.
SWANS v POWER Full match coverage and stats
The Power snatched the lead when Jeremy Finlayson kicked the third of his three goals with 90 seconds left on the clock after taking a juggling mark.
Florent then had his chance to be a hero, in the same spot Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th goal just over 12 months ago, but his kick from 50m – the final of his 33 touches – was swatted away by Aliir Aliir, who swatted away Buddy on a night to remember for the All-Australian defender against his former side.
While Port Adelaide recovered from 25 points down in the second quarter and from a 14-point three-quarter time deficit to level its ledger at 2-2 ahead of Gather Round, the night was overshadowed by a distressing incident early in the game.
Paddy McCartin was the comeback story of 2022, but his long-term health will be the focus in the coming days after he suffered another head knock.
WORRYING SIGNS Longmire circumspect on McCartin, Hinkley praises Port character
The 26-year-old exited the game inside 10 minutes after hitting his head on the ground in a contest with Todd Marshall that left him unable to get to his feet without support from two trainers and saw him stumble the 15 metres to the interchange bench.
Tom McCartin had to deal with seeing his older brother's career hit another hurdle before his night ended before half-time after he failed a head injury assessment following a collision on the far wing.
The Power conceded the first four goals of the game and the contest looked almost over before Sam Powell-Pepper's wobbly snap was confirmed via goal review 17 minutes into the second quarter.
Suddenly a switch was flicked. By half-time, scores were level after Finlayson, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis kicked goals at the Clive Churchill and Victor Trumper Stands end – 14 of the 18 goals were at this end – with the breeze.
Finlayson gave Port Adelaide the perfect start to the second half to maintain the momentum, kicking his second from outside 50 after pinning Peter Ladhams holding the ball. The Power matched everything Sydney threw at them, before Florent kicked Sydney's first goal for 45 minutes halfway through the third quarter to level the scores.
From there, Warner almost changed the game. A blur of blond curly hair exploded out of the centre on multiple occasions, purred out of other stoppages, finding targets inside 50 and then a high-quality goal to put the Swans 14 points up.
After collecting 10 coaches votes for a massive round one performance against Gold Coast, expect the 21-year-old to collect plenty on offer from Longmire and Hinkley, after bouncing back from a patchy fortnight, finishing with 30 disposals, 19 contested possessions, nine clearances, nine inside 50s and two goals.
But the efforts of Warner and Florent weren't enough to secure four premiership points for Sydney, despite registering a massive 22 more inside 50 entries to the Power and twice leading by at least 20 points.
Sydney started the Easter weekend as one of the great unknowns in the AFL. Last year's Grand Finalists smashed Gold Coast and Hawthorn in the first fortnight, but were comprehensively beaten by Melbourne in round three in their first real test of 2023. And now they are 2-2.
Port Adelaide is in the same boat at 2-2, but the rocky seas it departed when last in Adelaide suddenly feel calmer.
Aliir returns to haunt Swans
Aliir Aliir has become an All-Australian and one of the more damaging key defenders in the game at his best since moving to Alberton from the Swans at the end of 2020. But on Saturday night, the 28-year-old produced a vintage performance to shut out veteran superstar Lance Franklin at the SCG. Aliir collected a game-high 12 intercept possessions from his 16 disposals, holding the four-time Coleman medallist goalless and to just one mark in a crucial role. Trent McKenzie and Dan Houston also performed strongly down back, while Dylan Williams stood up in just second game after replacing Darcy Byrne-Jones in the 22, after Ken Hinkley made a statement at selection during the week.
Finlayson in hot form
Jeremy Finlayson not only kicked what proved to be the winning goal, after juggling a clever mark late in the game, he also kicked the most goals on the ground, finishing with three in a critical role, with Charlie Dixon held goalless and Todd Marshall only kicking one. The former Giant also finished with 10 contested possessions and eight score involvements in a memorable performance back in the city he called home for a long time.
Last kick hurts, but performance doesn't
The last kick might take some time to get over, but don't forget the wind. It didn't take away from a career night for Ollie Florent. The 24-year-old amassed a career-high 33 disposals, 888 metres gained, nine score involvements, eight inside 50s and a goal to be one of the best players on the SCG.
SYDNEY 3.2 4.6 7.10 9.10 (64)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.3 4.6 5.8 9.12 (66)
GOALS
Sydney: Warner 2, McDonald, 2, Papley, Ladhams, Florent, Blakey, Heeney
Port Adelaide: Finlayson 3, Rozee, McEntee, Marshall, Powell-Pepper, Horne-Francis, Butters
BEST
Sydney: Warner, Florent, Ladhams, Blakey, Parker, Gulden
Port Adelaide: Aliir, Butters, Finlayson, Duursma, Horne-Francis, McKenzie
INJURIES
Sydney: P.McCartin (concussion), T.McCartin (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox (replaced Paddy McCartin in the first quarter)
Port Adelaide: Darcy Byrne-Jones (replaced Junior Rioli in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 31,686 at the SCG