Swans overcome Power, and bad kicking, to keep season alive

Returning stars put Sydney back near its best despite shocking shots at goal

Will Hayward celebrates during the round 15 match between Port Adelaide and Sydney at Adelaide Oval, June 21, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

SYDNEY has overcome severe goalkicking yips to sink Port Adelaide by 19 points for a season-reviving away win.

The Swans triumphed 9.17 (71) to 7.10 (52) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday to climb two rungs to 11th on the ladder.

POWER v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Despite butchering a series of shots, Sydney (six wins, eight losses) is now only two victories outside the top eight - the same as 12th-placed Port.

The Swans were inspired by Isaac Heeney and captain Callum Mills, while Will Hayward booted three majors, including two in 60 seconds.

Hayward's strikes came in an opening half when the visitors were in command but logged an inaccurate 4.10 to 2.4 for an 18-point half-time lead.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 05:04 Cox post-match, R15: 'It is hard ... when you are missing shots you probably normally would kick them from' Watch Sydney’s press conference after round 15’s match against Port Adelaide

05:53 Hinkley post-match, R15: 'To be fair, the scoreboard was flattering' Watch Port Adelaide’s press conference after round 15’s match against Sydney

08:08 Highlights: Port Adelaide v Sydney The Power and Swans clash in round 15 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

00:33 Powell-Pepper's late sizzler gives Port one to cheer The Power work the footy out of the middle in a flash and Sam Powell-Pepper finishes the work with a terrific strike

01:00 The Chad blazes by to punish Power Chad Warner takes off at his typical blistering speed from half-back and assists Braeden Campbell

01:05 Hayward's not wayward: Will flicks through a quick two Will Hayward nails a pair of goals in quick succession to end a bad run of behinds for the Swans

00:50 Don't give JHF this much space Jason Horne-Francis punishes the Sydney defence after this quick crumb and snap

00:37 The Lizard slots one as cool as ever Nick Blakey is rewarded for his double effort as he strolls in for an easy goal

Sydney slipped 27 points clear when Heeney goaled in the third term before a brief cameo from Port's Willie Rioli threatened to turn the tide to the home side.

Rioli scored one major and set up another in a three-minute patch as the Power crept within 16 points, their three-quarter-time deficit.

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But Swans champ Heeney and the unheralded Hayward soon effectively sealed the result.

The dynamic duo goaled inside the initial eight minutes of the final term to take the sting fully from Port, who were 32 points down before scoring three late goals.

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Heeney was brilliant in his roaming role, gathering a match-high 29 disposals and 13 contested possessions.

Mills (27 possessions, eight marks), the rebounding Nick Blakey (22 touches, one goal) and Angus Sheldrick (21 disposals) all found plenty of the ball.

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Brodie Grundy ruled the rucks with 35 hitouts and 22 disposals, and, on return from injury, Errol Gulden (18 possessions) and Tom Papley (16) showed glimpses.

But another returning Swan, Joel Amartey, was the chief culprit in his side's waste.

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Amartey booted 0.6 - another 40m attempt fell short, and he sprayed a set shot out-on-the-full in the final quarter.

Chad Warner, Papley and Sheldrick all returned 0.2.

Port, after consecutive wins, were flat and unable to source a multiple goal-scorer.

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Vice-captain Zak Butters (28 disposals, one goal) and skipper Connor Rozee (25 disposals) toiled gamely without massive impact.

Forward Sam Powell-Pepper (20 touches) and winger Jase Burgoyne (20) also battled against the Sydney tide.

Learn More 00:33

Amartey Party pooper

Everyone’s allowed to be a bit rusty after time off, so Joel Amartey could expect to be cut some slack after playing one game of football in the last two months. However, the Swans full-forward took the term ‘wayward’ in a whole new direction, and it wasn’t anywhere near the goals. By the end of the game Amartey had taken eight set shots at goal for a total of five behinds and three complete misses. Another off-line snap left him with figures of 0.6 for the day.

Joel Amartey lines up for goal during the round 15 match between Port Adelaide and Sydney at Adelaide Oval, June 21, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

Oh Errol, Sydney's missed you

Saturday was Errol Gulden's first outing for the season, and he immediately showed what the Swans have been missing. Gulden started the game strongly with eight disposals in the first quarter - all of them kicks - and completed the match with 18 touches, 392 metres gained and an equal team-high five tackles. The star midfielder didn't finish in Sydney's best few, but there's no doubt he will plenty of times before the Swans' season finishes, and will play a big part in deciding when that will be.

Joe Richards and Errol Gulden during the round 15 match between Port Adelaide and Sydney at Adelaide Oval, June 21, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

PORT ADELAIDE 0.2 2.4 4.6 7.10 (52)

SYDNEY 1.6 4.10 5.16 9.17 (71)

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Rioli, Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Butters, Byrne-Jones, Powell-Pepper, Richards

Sydney: Hayward 3, Heeney 2, McInerney, Blakey, McLean, Campbell

BEST

Port Adelaide: Butters, Rozee, Burgoyne, Powell-Pepper

Sydney: Heeney, Grundy, Blakey, Mills, McInerney, Hayward

INJURIES

Port Adelaide: Bergman (shoulder)

Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Port Adelaide: Jeremy Finlayson, replaced Jordon Sweet in the third quarter

Sydney: Riley Bice, replaced Aaron Francis at three-quarter time

Crowd: 33,576 at Adelaide Oval

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