AFL round two: Peter Wright faces ban for hit on Harry Cunningham as Swans beat Bombers, Demons down Hawks, and Dockers come back against Kangaroos
The Swans have downed the Bombers at the SCG after a Peter Wright hit on Harry Cunningham sparked spiteful scenes throughout the match
Earlier, Melbourne's win over Hawthorn was soured by injuries to two key players, and the Dockers claimed another comeback victory at Docklands over North Melbourne. See the match reports:
- Freo come from behind to beat North
- Injuries mar Demons' win over Hawks
- Swans too slick for spirited Bombers
See how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
Final scores
That's it from the blog tonight
Another big day of footy, and some big winners today. Sydney are 3-0, Fremantle are 2-0 and Melbourne are rapidly improving and now comfy at 2-1. Swans, Dockers and Demons fans will be sleeping soundly tonight.
We've got three more big ones tomorrow, so make sure you join me and Andrew McGarry back on the blog again for Sunday action. See you then!
FT: Sydney 19.17 (131) def Essendon 15.11 (101)
![Chad Warner celebrates](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-c2d6225c-808b-4a2a-a740-bcb435fae398.jpeg)
Sydney have maintained their unbeaten start to the AFL season with a spiteful 30-point win over Essendon.
But the ladder-leading Swans' 19.17 (131) to 15.11 (101) victory at the SCG on Saturday night was overshadowed by a huge bump from big Bomber Peter Wright that left Sydney midfielder Harry Cunningham concussed.
The match was barely four minutes old when the 203cm-tall Wright leapt in the air, turned sideways and knocked out the 181cm Cunningham.
The Swans man was stretchered off the ground and substituted out with concussion, while Wright copped a chorus of boos every time he subsequently touched the ball.
Set upon by a throng of irate Sydney players, the big forward faces a lengthy suspension.
Tom Papley (four goals, 24 disposals) was dynamic, while Isaac Heeney (32 touches, one goal) and Errol Gulden (24, two) continued their blistering start to 2024.
Captain Zach Merrett (two goals, 32 disposals), Nic Martin (31 touches) and Will Setterfield (29) led the charge for valiant Essendon.
AAP
Isaac Heeney's stellar season continues
![Isaac Heeney with the ball](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-d41dd8c7-9c1e-4794-9a09-44b9c69396ac.jpeg)
Three games, three BOGs for Isaac Heeney I reckon. He was everywhere again tonight, filling the stat sheet and having a very tangible impact on every facet of the game.
Heeney finished up with 32 disposals, eight clearances, four tackles, 13 score involvements and a goal. He looks every bit like the elite midfielder we always thought he would one day become.
FT: Swans so impressive in 30-point win over Bombers
![Nick Blakey celebrates](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-2e2fb493-05d3-4072-9110-61cf9a72aa16.jpeg)
Jake Stringer kicks his third after the full-time siren, but it does little to dampen the atmosphere at the SCG. The Swans are flying, playing some fantastic footy and looking as good as anyone so far in 2024.
The Bombers threw their best at the Swans tonight, and matched them or bettered them for long periods. But there is just too much class, too much speed and silk in this Sydney team to contain for long. If they're close to on their game — which they certainly were tonight — I'm not sure how you stop them.
Lots to like for Essendon, but they won't want to be stacking up the honourable losses this year. If they play with the same hunger they did tonight, they'll win plenty in 2024. Sydney in Sydney might just be the toughest test in footy this year.
Chad Warner has another! Swans having some fun!
This margin is probably going to end up pretty harsh on the Bombers, but the Swans are having a bit of a good time now.
As the Swans force the ball forward from the clearance, Warner follows up the whole way before winning the ground ball and snapping through another. It's a big score now for Sydney, the biggest of the season so far.
James Jordon with a special goal! Icing on the cake!
The new recruit has speared one home from right on the boundary, just about bang on 50m out from goal. Tightest of angles, but incredible skill from Jordon.
Party time for Sydney now.
Chad Warner says thanks for coming! The Swans will win it!
He was harder at the ball in about three consecutive contests there, and eventually Warner was able to get onto his left in enough space to snap the goal.
Warner has been terrific again tonight. The Swans are about to be 3-0.
Stringer kicks another, back to 18 points
How does the old goal a minute rule work again? The Bombers need to kick three in 3:46 — I think that means technically it could still be on.
Technically.
Free kick to Papley, goal to Papley! Swans might be home
That could be the sealer. It was a needless free kick given away by Hind for holding at the stoppage, and when given the opportunity Papley doesn't let his team down.
He has four goals, the Swans are back out by 24 points and with 6:42 on the clock that might just about be that.
Gulden gives the Swans some breathing room
![Errol Gulden celebrates](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-b377a9b0-da06-495d-a06b-ce575a81b4ea.jpeg)
The Bombers are living on a knife's edge, and any Sydney goal could be enough to end their hopes.
That one from Gulden hurts, just as they were building up a head of steam. McInerney made up for some previous errors with a clever kick to Gulden in the pocket, and Gulden was up to the moment.
Jade Gresham gets it back to 11 points! Here come the Dons!
The Swans can't get out of their own half now, and eventually the Bombers make that pressure pay!
Alwyn Davey Jr is on as the sub and his first act is to pin McInerney in a magnificent run down tackle in the centre square. The next kick found Gresham, who slotted the crucial goal.
Game all the way on now!
Zach Merrett has kicked another! What a game from the captain!
Inspirational stuff from the Essendon captain. He read the crumb better than anyone in the area and snapped truly. He's begging his teammates to come along for this ride with him.
It's an 18-point game.
Fourteen minutes to play, four goals the difference
![Swans and Bombers players compete](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-e26391d7-5fd8-4883-b6bc-3e331e7b73b9.jpeg)
Plenty of time for Essendon. They are still running well and certainly haven't thrown the towel in yet.
Zach Merrett won't give up on this one! He gets one back for Essendon
The skipper is doing all he can to lift his team. He sticks a ferocious tackle on McInerney deep in attack to win the free kick, and duly goes back to kick the goal. He's had a big game, but he'll need some help from here on out.
Hayward kicks a quick one, and that might just about kill the Bombers off
A goal for Sydney inside 30 seconds of the last quarter feels like a killer blow for the Bombers.
Will Hayward has Brodie Grundy to thank for that one. No ruckman should be able to scoop up a half-volley and dish off a handball in one movement like that. Remarkable skill from the big fella, and it results in a Hayward goal.
3QT: McLean goals after the siren! Swans out to a 23-point lead
![Nick Blakey lays a tackle](https://au-img-cdn.livecenter.com/lc-aus-images/lcimg-55031736-b284-42ac-b16f-77b5e520f604.jpeg)
That is an absolute killer for Essendon. They only had to survive one stoppage at half-forward, but the Grundy tap to Gulden was perfect and McLean was able to mark the resulting kick.
The Swans just keep throwing punches. They are relentless with their attack on the ball and speed in transition. They have asked the Bombers if they are up to going with them, and for the first time all night the Dons are starting to waver.
It's only four goals, but it feels like a big gap for Essendon to make up now. They'll need to be perfect, they'll need to find the ferocity they had in the first half, and they'll need to hope the Swans make some mistakes. It's difficult, but not impossible.
Nick Blakey is on the board! Swans by 17
The Lizard absolutely took off through the middle of the SCG as Sydney launched one of their famous counter-attacks. He didn't get it back by hand, but had to settle for the little hit up kick a few possessions in the chain later.
The set shot from 40 out, directly in front was never in doubt. Essendon really couldn't afford to cough that one up with a minute to play.
Jake Stringer pulls one back for Essendon
I was just about to say that these last three minutes of this quarter would be critical for Essendon. They absolutely couldn't afford to concede another, and really needed to pull one back if they could.
Enter Jake Stringer, recipient of an excellent Jade Gresham handball, who snaps off a step to cut the lead to 11. Lots of game left in this one.
Tom Papley has three and the Swans have a 16-point lead
There's no better player for the scrap than Tom Papley. He's engaging in the battle with every Bomber he can find, and is starting to have a real influence on this game.
Again the Swans carry it from half-back all the way to goal. Papley's third gives the Swans a handy buffer.
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