The AFL finals fixture has proved a boon for Sydney, with a longer break opening the door for concussed forward Tom Papley to play in the Swans’ qualifying final against Melbourne.
Papley was concussed in the second quarter of Sydney’s 13.10 (88) to 11.8 (74) win over St Kilda on Sunday afternoon after colliding with teammate Lance Franklin and hitting his head on the Marvel Stadium turf.
Under the AFL concussion policy, players cannot return to play until 12 days after suffering a concussion.
Had third-placed Sydney been handed the Thursday night fixture, Papley would have been unavailable.
They will instead face second-placed Melbourne at the MCG on Friday 2 September, a full 12 days after the Saints clash.
Prior to the fixture release, Sydney coach John Longmire said it was “pretty obvious” his charges shouldn’t be playing on the Thursday night given they had featured on the final Sunday of the regular season.
“Well you wouldn’t think it would be Thursday night, would you?” Longmire told reporters.
“If you play the last game on a Sunday, and you finish top four.
“I’m just stating the obvious.”
Longmire said Papley, who appeared frustrated on the bench after his concussion diagnosis, was “fine”.
James Rowbottom provided an excellent contribution for the Swans, collecting 24 disposals, six clearances and a goal while Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Will Hayward (three goals) were influential.
In his final game, Saints midfielder and former Swan Dan Hannebery turned back the clock, racking up 30 disposals and seven clearances.
“He had a ripping game today – I should have tagged him,” Longmire joked of his former player, who he hailed as one of the best two-way midfielders he’d seen.
Hannebery was chaired off by Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and St Kilda’s Jack Steele.
“He’s a Saints man but he’s a Swans premiership player, so it was really fitting for him to play the way he did,” Saints coach Brett Ratten said.
St Kilda’s Max King, in the spotlight for his poor kicking for goal in recent weeks, landed four first-half goals and finished with five straight.
With their poor percentage, the Saints’ faint finals hopes were effectively ended when the Western Bulldogs beat Hawthorn, despite Carlton’s subsequent loss to Collingwood.
St Kilda went on a late run, including four consecutive goals, to twice draw within seven points of the Swans.
On both occasions, Will Hayward drove a dagger into the Saints’ hearts with classy, clutch snaps.
“It probably says a bit about our year, I reckon,” Ratten said, after the loss confirmed a 10th-placed finish.
“We’re close, we try hard but we just make too many mistakes at critical times.”
Luckless Saint Hunter Clark (groin) was substituted for the retiring Dean Kent at halftime while Josh Battle was concussed in the third quarter.
Ratten said Kent broke his thumb in the third quarter but played out his final game.
