AFL LIVE round 15: Giants making late charge after Swans surge; Lions into eight for first time

The Swans have done the job and completed a win over their rivals despite that late fightback from the Giants.

Errol Gulden had 41 disposals for the Swans and James Rowbottom impressed with 31 disposals and Giants star Tom Green had 35 touches.

The Swans have put back some players to stop this Giants comeback but they have still found a way to get on the board with James Jordon kicking truly.

Let’s see if the Swans rebuild this lead or it stays around this mark.

Swans 101, GWS 65 with eight mins left.

Suddenly, the Giants are back in this with Josh Kelly booting a goal to bring the margin down to 23 points with 13 minutes to go.

But within seconds of the centre bounce, the Swans won the ball and went forward and they found Cleary alone in the goal square.

He booted a goal with his first kick in the AFL. The margin is back to 29.

Swans 94, GWS 65 with 13 mins to go.

Swans debutante Caiden Cleary has made his debut running on with 16 minutes to go after starting this match as the sub.

He has replaced Lewis Melican.

GWS have made it four goals in a row with Jake Riccardi marking the ball deep and kicking truly.

Swans 88, GWS 59 with 14 mins remaining.

There are a few brave souls left in the Giants cheer squad who have remained sitting on the open stand in torrential rain at Sydney Showground, as they still believe.

Although the game looks out of reach, there is a glimmer of hope for the future with the two goals from debutant Max Gruzewski who has impressed in the VFL.

Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom are the two men in contention for the Brett Kirk Medal for the player who is judged best on ground.

The gap has been shown between the two sides today.

Harvey Thomas has kicked a goal to open the last term.

Swans 88, GWS 52 with 19 mins remaining.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he won’t surrender after being jeered by Power fans during a record 79-point loss to Brisbane.

The Lions roared into the AFL top eight by booting a dozen consecutive goals in their highest ever score against Port, winning 23.14 (152) to 10.13 (73) on Saturday.

Sections of the Port crowd roundly booed Hinkley when he was shown on Adelaide Oval’s big screens, and also post-match.

“It’s not fun. It’s not what I enjoy. It’s just what the reality is of my job,” Hinkley said.

“If you can’t cope with it, you probably shouldn’t be in my job.

“I can cope with it. I don’t enjoy it, it’s not my favourite time.”

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said the abuse of Hinkley was the only downer of his day.

“For me, if there’s one disappointment about winning today’s game, it’s the fact that he got booed off the ground, I don’t like that,” he said.

“Coaching is a hard caper … I’m a big supporter of all coaches.

“His record here at this club is extraordinary and he shouldn’t be judged on one performance.”

Hinkley holds the record for most VFL/AFL games coached without reaching a grand final – 262 – and has a winning percentage of 59.7.

And he’s far from writing off the season after a third consecutive loss leaves the Power in seventh spot, two premiership points above the Lions.

Referring to his young midfielders, who were collectively thrashed by Brisbane’s battle-hardened core, Hinkley said: “I know at their best they can cause any team some significant issues.

“I am not going to sit here and surrender, I won’t do that.

“I will sit here and say that I expect the boys to get better.”

AAP

Giants veteran Callan Ward has won the ball and kicked a goal as the rain continues to fall at Engie Stadium.

“This is Sydney Test match weather,” joked Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard.

The Giants aren’t giving up despite the size of this margin and the Swans are still well on top as we head to the last term.

No late changes for Demons v Roos. Kynan Brown (Dees) and Dylan Stephens (Roos) are the subs.