AFL 2024 round 13 LIVE updates: Swans fight back to close down Cats’ early lead

Well, this is a bit exciting. Not only a top-four clash but one with some recent storied history.

First-placed Sydney have fallen just one side this year, surprisingly that was Richmond in round three, while Geelong overcame a slow start to climb back up the ladder up to third, on 8-4.

However, the last few match-ups have been in Cats favour. When they met in round 16 last year, it ended in a draw. But before that, Geelong produced back-to-back blowout victories, beating Sydney by 93 points in round 6 and 79 points in the grand final. Sheesh.

But this Sydney team have earned the tag this season of the ones to beat. So, how do you see this one playing out today?

Now it’s goal-for-goal at the SCG – and what an interesting contest this is unfolding to be.

Joel Amartey followed Tyson Stengle’s opening second half goal to draw the margin back down to under a goal.

Amartey is proving to be a good target for the Swans. He’s taken four inside 50 marks this game.

Cats by 3

And Sydney’s run of five unanswered goals has been ended by Tyson Stengle, who kicked off the second half with his third major of the day.

That’s Stengle’s 27th goal of the year.

Cats by 11

Well, that was an interesting first half of footy. And now we’re off in the second.

Will Sydney keep coming after kicking the last five goals of the game or will Geelong fight back and keep their lead? We’re about to find out.

Sydney’s gold-plated midfield has ignited a stagnant Swans side, reviving their team in front of a near sellout crowd.

By half-time the previously mute fans were on their feet, cheering the Swans off as if they had won the game.

It was a remarkable turnaround, with the Swans failing to kick their first goal until midway through the second term after they trailed by 35 points.

It was the first of five goals in ten minutes as Swans claimed the three highest possession winners on the ground to the long break – Chad Warner having gathered 15 while Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden had 14.

In a blink of an eye, the whole game changed late in that second quarter.

Geelong booted the first six goals of the game but then found themselves stunned as Sydney booted five on the trot that second term.

The big swing closed the Cats’ leading margin right down to just five points.

After Geelong was threatening a blowout early, Sydney woke up and made it a ballgame. Perhaps after the bye they just needed a bit of warming up.

Cats by 5 at HT

Now Isaac Heeney joins the scoring party, and with a double. The exciting forward-turned-midfielder booted back-to-back goals to draw Geelong’s margin back down to under a goal.

This has been quite the change in momentum, as the Swans have now kicked the last five of the day. And boy, has the SCG elevated, too.

Heeney and Chad Warner have been integral to this lift from Sydney in the latter half of the second quarter.

Cats by 5

Ah, that looks like a bit more of a respectable scoreline now.

Will Hayward booted the Swans’ second goal of the day, which was followed by Chad Warner kicking a mammoth major on the run.

The first two Sydney goals both came from defensive-half intercepts. Warner’s came from a forward-half stoppage.

So, Geelong kicked the first six goals of the day, Sydney the past three.

Cats by 18

Finally. Deep into the second quarter, Sydney have kicked their first major of the afternoon through Joel Amartey.

Swans fans will be hoping it sparks something in their side, who sit on top the ladder, but are being comprehensively outplayed by Geelong at the minute.

Cats by 29

It’s now six goals to zip as Shannon Neale has added his name to the goalscoring sheet for Geelong.

While Sydney are getting first hands to the ball and winning the clearance, Geelong’s pressure is forcing mistakes. The Cats have been great at capitalising on turnovers and creating chances in their forward half.

Cats by 35