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SportAFLAFL 2026

Swans superstar Heeney reveals Cox’s rev-up to their leaders before furious comeback

Danny Russell and Roy Ward
Updated ,first published
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Key Posts

Swans claim thrilling comeback win over Port
Carr says final term showed ‘gap’ between Swans and Power
North’s great escape comes at a cost with Curtis in MRO strife
‘I’m proud of what they are doing’: Goodwin praises Dees
What Cox told his leaders at the final change
FT: Sydney Swans 14.9 (93) d Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)
‘You hate to see that’: Larkey
Roos win

Swans claim thrilling comeback win over Port

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Sydney have produced another great escape, toppling Port Adelaide by three points to claim equal top spot on the AFL ladder.

The Swans trailed by eight points at three-quarter time, but prevailed 14.9 (93) to 13.12 (90) Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Chad Warner of the Swans celebrates their win.AFL Photos

A week after coming from six points down at the last change to pip St Kilda, Sydney kicked five goals to three in the final term against Port.

The Swans (12 wins, two losses) join Fremantle (12 wins, one loss) atop the ladder, with the Dockers ahead on percentage.

Carr says final term showed ‘gap’ between Swans and Power

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Power coach Josh Carr wants his young side to hurt after losing matches like this, but he likes the “connected” footy his Power played for much of the game.

Carr counted six players aged 20 or under in his team tonight, and they will take plenty from the experience of taking on the Swans.

Jordon Sweet of the Power celebrates a goal.Getty Images

“I thought it was a really good performance from the team against quality opposition,” Carr said.

“You can put that down on the list as another close loss. I think it shows a gap in the close moments between those guys at the moment and where we are.

“I thought as a team we played super, we played connected footy, but we just didn’t play well enough in some moments of the game.”

North’s great escape comes at a cost with Curtis in MRO strife

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West Coast will wrap their arms around Jake Waterman after the star forward hit the post with just 45 seconds remaining to allow North Melbourne to escape with a thrilling one-point victory at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

Just a week after copping a 124-point loss at the hands of the Dockers, Jack Darling’s four first-half goals put the Kangaroos on track for victory in front of 42,409 fans.

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North led by 21 points early in the final quarter, but two goals from an inspired Jobe Shanahan and one to Waterman closed the margin to two points.

Then with a little over a minute to go, Waterman took a mark just 30 metres out and directly in front.

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Watch: The Rowbottom goal that saved the game

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They didn’t know it at the time but James Rowbottom’s late goal proved the winner tonight.

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‘I’m proud of what they are doing’: Goodwin praises Dees

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Former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is embracing his time at the Swans since joining Dean Cox’s staff, but he’s also proud of his former club’s stellar season to date.

Goodwin said he was still watching the Demons, and he’s proud to see the Demons winning matches under new coach Steven King.

Dean Cox talks to Swans director of coaching and performance, Simon Goodwin.AFL Photos

“I coached almost all those guys that are playing at the moment, and I love seeing them develop and I’m proud of what they are doing right now,” Goodwin told Kayo Sports.

Goodwin said he wants to keep coaching and keep developing his skills with the Swans.

“I still see myself as a young coach and I want to keep learning and keep evolving,” Goodwin told Kayo Sports.

“I can share my experience with Coxy, but I want to learn as well. I love coaching, I wanted to stay in footy because I wanted to keep getting better, and this footy club is teaching me a lot of things from the executiv,e to the board, to the footy department.”

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What Cox told his leaders at the final change

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Swans star Isaac Heeney has revealed what coach Dean Cox told his leaders when he brought them together before the start of the final term.

The Swans ended up taking the win, with the likes of Heeney among their best. They remain in the top two as they head into a bye next round.

“It was on us,” Heeney told Kayo Sports.

Isaac Heeney celebrates a goal with Jake Lloyd.AFL Photos

“It was on us to get going, and you need your leaders to lead by example and then the other boys will jump on board.

“There was a bit of a clip too, to get us going. When you are going into a bye, you want a win.”

FT: Sydney Swans 14.9 (93) d Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)

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The undermanned Swans stood tall in the last term and rode the play of their besieged leaders to a comeback win.

Power big man Jordon Sweet kicked a goal with just 30 seconds to play, cutting the lead to three points, but the Swans then maintained possession after the next centre ball-up to hold on when it mattered most.

Swans win

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The Swans have held on for the win.

It didn’t come easy, but they were just too good in the end.

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Rowbottom with a poacher’s goal

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Swans hard nut James Rowbottom just took the ball from the front of the pack and ran into an open goal.

Could it be the sealer, or is there another plot twist to come?

Swans 93, Power 84 with two mins to go.

James Rowbottom competes for a mark against Darcy Byrne-Jones.Getty Images
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