Blog log from P1 of 2026: Sydney vs Western Sydney

Stringer snaps across the body from 45m on a fast break from D50, the ball lands 15m out and skids away from Gothard for a behind. (Q1 0:40)
Gulden takes a mark 45m out on a slight angle and delivers a lovely drop punt in steady Sydney rain. (Q1 5:52)
Curnow takes a big pack mark 60m out on the point of the centre square, he wheels and bombs long to an empty square… the Egyptian channelling Buddy for that huge goal! (Q1 8:12)
Stringer marks over McCartin in the square for his first goal after a quick rebound through the corridor started by Idun. (Q1 15:53)
Rosas sets up Amartey to pass to Jordon 20m out on a slight angle but he misses near side right. (Q1 20:13)
Stringer tries a J-curve set shot from 40m near the boundary but curls it too early for a point. (Q1 22:20)
Jordon roves a McDonald contest 20m out and bananas the goal off a step from near the behind line. (Q1 23:53)
Laverde catches McDonald over the shoulder going for the crumb from a stoppage 20m out in front, cheap goal for the Swans. (Q1 26:38)
Sheldrick can’t mark a tough pass to traffic at the hotspot but fights on through numbers to get a snap off from 10m that goes through. (Q1 28:33)
Amartey beats Himmelberg to a quick clearance kick by Rowbottom near the hotspot for the first goal of Q2. (Q2 2:58)
Hannaford roves on the HBF but Mills was sweating on him and wins the HTB free, centring ball results in a push free against Madden to Grundy for the goal from 10m. (Q2 4:44)
Three Swans defenders try to smother Hogan in the Giants goalsquare but the Coleman Medallist navigates the maelstrom to toepoke the goal. (Q2 9:54)
McInerney is pinged for kicking in danger on Oliver, caught him painfully in the hand, but Stringer curls in the goal from 35m playing on to advantage. (Q2 18:29)
Rampe is penalised for a block on Hogan in a marking contest next to the goalsquare, second goal for Hogan. (Q2 21:15)
Stringer kicks long from 55m on the flank, empty square and the ball skids straight through. (Q2 23:10)
Papley weaves through traffic near CHF and uses good vision to pass to Chad Warner 45m out near the boundary. Kick lands on the goal line and is touched through. (Q2 27:00)
A delay in getting Q3 underway as the DJ has forgotten to press stop on Tame Impala coming across the tannoy. (Half Time)
Gothard wins a HTB free on Rowbottom 45m out on a slight angle but his free kick drifts narrow to the left. (Q3 1:23)
After a line-breaking run through the centre by Grundy, Rowbottom tumbles a kick from near the hotspot for Curnow to mark for an easy goal. (Q3 2:21)
Heeney keeps his feet after contesting with Laverde 15m out to soccer through the goal off his left after a long bomb by Wicks. (Q3 4:21)
Surge by Sydney after the3 next bounce, Cleary is on the end of it to snap the goal from the hotspot. All Swans since HT. (Q3 5:21)
Wicks has been prominent on rebound today but he turns one over by foot, Oliver skids through the goal from 35m in front after a feed by Gothard. (Q3 9:06)
Serong marks 20m out on a slight angle but sprays the kick in very wet conditions. (Q3 16:20)
Chad Warner dribbles a hurried snap to the right from 20m after a calamitous handball clanger by Riccardi in defence. (Q3 17:51)
Chad Warner goes back with the flight to outmark Oliver near the hotspot but again misses to the right. (Q3 21:04)
McInerney tumbles through a goal from a stoppage 30m out on the flank. (Q4 2:34)
Gruzewski draws a contact free on Bice in a marking contest for a goal from 20m. (Q4 7:36)
Amartey curls in a set shot for his second to put the result beyond doubt. (Q4 13:55)
After a Ladhams goal, McDonald boots his second from a long-range set shot. (Q4 25:05)
Gruzewski snaps his second goal from 40m on a slight angle in red time. (Q4 26:40)
Lightning sighted over Marrickville, but they are playing out the last handful of minutes. (Q4 28:10)