A goal on the final siren has given the Swans a six-point win over the GIANTS in a tight and tough final NAB Challenge match at StarTrack Oval in Canberra.
Craig Bird snapped a goal as the siren sounded to sneak the Swans home 0.11.7 (73) to 0.9.13 (67) against Greater Western Sydney, but most of the attention will be on their casualties.
The Swans are hopeful superstar forward Lance Franklin has escaped major injury after the marquee man was knocked out in a sickening head clash with teammate Gary Rohan on a dramatic afternoon in Canberra on Sunday.
Aside from Franklin, co-captain Kieren Jack was also taken to Canberra Hospital after taking a hit to the abdomen in the NAB Challenge match.
Franklin and Rohan were attempting to tackle GIANT Lachie Whitefield when they looked up and collided head-on.
Rohan left the field but returned in the second quarter and played out the match.
The incident was indicative of a fierce encounter between the two Sydney teams that also saw GIANT Will Hoskin-Elliott taken from the field holding his arm in the final term.
Jeremy Cameron was sensational in the GIANTS' forward line, kicking five goals and showing signs of his 2013 All Australian form.
It may have been just a pre-season match, but no quarter was given or asked between the two Sydney rivals.
Former Swan Shane Mumford showed there was no love lost with his former teammates, giving Dan Hannebery an almighty shove in the second term that sent the blonde midfielder flying.
But after absorbing some heat in the first quarter and trailing by nine points, the GIANTS showed they would not be pushovers this season.
"We came here hoping we'd get throughinjury free, but also the intensity of the game would lift to close to an AFLstandard, and we know the Swans always bring that," Giants coach LeonCameron said.
"The challenge for us is to continue to bring that,and I thought we did for most of the game."
Midfielders Callan Ward (25), Josh Kelly (24) and Adam Treloar (23) had plenty of the ball and were driving forces behind their team's strong performance.
For the Swans, Luke Parker (29 disposals) was the pick of the players.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Jeremy Cameron is back to his best. The 2013 All Australian might have been a touch down last season by his own lofty standards, but after five goals on Sunday looks in mint condition ahead of round one. The 21-year-old was leading, jumping, taking contested marks and recovering quicker than his opponent and was clearly the best forward on the field. Tom Boyd might have left and Jon Patton might not be back until midway through the season, but GIANTS fans can breathe easy their young superstar looks ready to roll.
NEW FACES
Former Brisbane Lion Joel Patfull continued his seamless transition to the GIANTS with another polished display. The medium-sized defender has not missed a beat since his off-season move and impressed with his 22 composed disposals and marshaling of the back six. Fellow recruit Ryan Griffen also put in another classy display. Of his 20 disposals, 12 were contested and included a brilliant snapped goal from just inside 50m that very few could manage.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.3.3 0.6.4 0.8.8 0.9.13 (67)
SYDNEY SWANS 0.5.0 0.7.2 0.9.3 0.11.7 (73)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 5, Greene, Griffin, McCarthy, Tomlinson
Sydney Swans: Heeney 2, Robinson, Rohan, Towers, Cunningham, Hannebery, Kennedy, Goodes, Bird, Parker
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron, Ward, Patfull, Bugg, Treloar, Tomlinson
Sydney Swans: Parker, Hannebery, Lloyd, Grundy, Smith, Kennedy
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Hoskin-Elliott (arm)
Sydney Swans: Franklin (face); Jack (abdomen)
